ancestry
noun
an·ces·try
ˈan-ˌse-strē 
Synonyms
Examples of ancestry in a Sentence
They claim to be of noble ancestry.
a person of unknown ancestry
She claims to be able to trace her ancestry all the way back to the earliest settlers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Williams’ appearance on Maher’s podcast touched on the beginning of his career and how acting opportunities were scant because of his race (Williams is Black with Native American ancestry).
—
Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Detectives were able to compare DNA found at the crime scene with what was available on popular ancestry websites and build a family tree, according to previous Statesman reporting.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2024
Current eligibility is open to U.S. citizens with minimum one-quarter tribal ancestry, which follows the blood quantum once federally mandated of Native Americans.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
And a new option will be available for the first time allowing respondents to identify as part of a new category, Middle Eastern or North African ancestry.
—Michael Wines, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Different tests may be needed for different ancestries The more variants a test screens for, the better the chance of finding rarer gene forms in ethnically diverse populations.
—Arthur Allen | Kff Health News, NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Your living situation, family ties, and ancestry is also playing a loud role in all of this.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2024
So, teaching kids about their ancestry gives them the material to begin telling these stories.
—Jenna Wirth, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024
The researchers analyzed 2,762 genomes from India, both providing insight into the population history of the country and expanding the scope of such studies, which have usually been focused on people of European ancestry.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Detectives were able to compare DNA found at the crime scene with what was available on popular ancestry websites and build a family tree, according to previous Statesman reporting.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2024
Current eligibility is open to U.S. citizens with minimum one-quarter tribal ancestry, which follows the blood quantum once federally mandated of Native Americans.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
And a new option will be available for the first time allowing respondents to identify as part of a new category, Middle Eastern or North African ancestry.
—Michael Wines, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Different tests may be needed for different ancestries The more variants a test screens for, the better the chance of finding rarer gene forms in ethnically diverse populations.
—Arthur Allen | Kff Health News, NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
Your living situation, family ties, and ancestry is also playing a loud role in all of this.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2024
So, teaching kids about their ancestry gives them the material to begin telling these stories.
—Jenna Wirth, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024
The researchers analyzed 2,762 genomes from India, both providing insight into the population history of the country and expanding the scope of such studies, which have usually been focused on people of European ancestry.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ancestry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ancestry
Cite this Entry
“Ancestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestry. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ancestry
noun
an·ces·try
ˈan-ˌses-trē
1
: line of descent
2
: one's ancestors
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