ancestral
adjective
an·ces·tral
an-ˈse-strəl 
: of, relating to, or inherited from an ancestor
ancestral estates
Examples of ancestral in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The twice-weekly two-hour temazcal experience, led by a local Mayan shaman, guides participants through an ancestral purification ritual focused on physical and spiritual detoxification.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
In between, travelers cross remote deserts and see sights like the sacred Muṯitjulu Waterhole while learning about the landscape’s geographical wonders and hearing the ancestral stories of the Aṉangu.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026
Your book details how our ancestral species left the safety of sleeping in trees for the dangerous ground as a result of shelter, fire and social sleeping.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
Guests are welcomed into a lavvu (traditional tent) to cook over open flames, meet reindeer, and listen to joik—ancestral singing passed down through generations.
—Lea Lane, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestral
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
In between, travelers cross remote deserts and see sights like the sacred Muṯitjulu Waterhole while learning about the landscape’s geographical wonders and hearing the ancestral stories of the Aṉangu.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026
Your book details how our ancestral species left the safety of sleeping in trees for the dangerous ground as a result of shelter, fire and social sleeping.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
Guests are welcomed into a lavvu (traditional tent) to cook over open flames, meet reindeer, and listen to joik—ancestral singing passed down through generations.
—Lea Lane, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestral
Cite this Entry
“Ancestral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestral. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ancestral
adjective
an·ces·tral
an-ˈses-trəl
: of, relating to, or developed from an ancestor
ancestral home
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