ancestral

adjective

an·​ces·​tral an-ˈse-strəl 

: of, relating to, or inherited from an ancestor

ancestral estates

ancestrally

an-ˈse-strə-lē 

adverb

Examples of ancestral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The land at where the Railyards development sits was part of Wilton Rancheria’s ancestral homeland. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026

One requirement covers the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1948 in what the standards describe as the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people. — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026

Set in the witch-rich state of Massachusetts, the outcasted siblings attempt to lift their ancestral curse, which strikes dead any man who falls in love with an Owens woman. — Alex Jhamb Burns, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

In The Book of Magic, Franny Owens sacrifices her life to finally break the 300-year-old ancestral love curse plaguing their family. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ancestral

• ancestral Pueblo
• ancestral Puebloan

Rhymes for ancestral

• orchestral
• kestrel

Kids Definition

ancestral

adjective

an·​ces·​tral an-ˈses-trəl 

: of, relating to, or developed from an ancestor

ancestral home

ancestrally

-trə-lē 

adverb