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

Yet their rules, fees, ancestry requirements, and political rights vary widely, risking turning a powerful idea into a collection of competing citizenship sales pitches. — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026

According to Census data taken between 2019 and 2023, the number of residents of Italian ancestry in Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and the Columbia Waterfront District was down 25 percent over the previous 13 years. — Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026

By comparison, 22% pointed to culture and 21% to ancestry, while many others described their Jewishness as some combination of the three. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Officials said Krusely, born in 1929, came from Croatian and Yugoslavian ancestry, making the case very challenging due to the low representation in accessible DNA databases. — Brandon Downs, CBS News, 27 Aug. 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