ancestry

noun

an·​ces·​try ˈan-ˌse-strē 

1

: line of descent : lineage

especially : honorable, noble, or aristocratic descent

2

: persons initiating or comprising a line of descent : ancestors

Synonyms of ancestry

• lineage
• genealogy
• origin
• pedigree
• descent
• family
• breeding

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

But in reality, as scientists started poking large enough collections of data, there were regular hints of some strange ancestry in our genomes. — ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026

The August 12 eclipse in Leo kicks off a new story around home, family, legacy, and ancestry. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026

Without a mentor to guide him, Aang spends his spare time hunting for Air Nomad relics in an attempt to connect with his ancestry. — Alison Herman, Variety, 24 July 2026

Why, then, would birthright citizenship be singled out and disputed because of one’s Chinese ancestry? — Claire Ke, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ancestry

noun

an·​ces·​try ˈan-ˌses-trē 

1

: line of descent

2

: one's ancestors