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
High up on a ridge overlooking the rolling grasslands of northern Montana’s Great Plains, the vast ancestral land of the Blackfeet Nation sprawls before me.
—
Karen Gardiner, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
An Afro-Panamanian dancer returns to his neighborhood after his father’s death, navigating family responsibility, a violent environment and the need to reconnect with his body and ancestral roots.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
The Boundary Waters are universally beloved by Minnesotans, vitally important as ancestral lands to our tribal communities and are irreplaceable.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Newsom promised to help a Native tribe restore sacred salmon to their ancestral river.
—Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestral
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Karen Gardiner, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
An Afro-Panamanian dancer returns to his neighborhood after his father’s death, navigating family responsibility, a violent environment and the need to reconnect with his body and ancestral roots.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
The Boundary Waters are universally beloved by Minnesotans, vitally important as ancestral lands to our tribal communities and are irreplaceable.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Newsom promised to help a Native tribe restore sacred salmon to their ancestral river.
—Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 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 20 Apr. 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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