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

Advertisement Uncle Alex’s arrival in Juffure was a feat of ancestral home revealed and personal mystery solved. — Anne Haley, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Modi’s early life Modi’s story begins in the city of Palanpur, nestled in India’s western Gujarat state and known as the ancestral home of the country’s diamond merchant class. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026

Beyond the ancestral house, Singh says the village itself, with its crumbling 19th-century school building and untended lanes, reshaped the narrative during location scouting. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026

The Australian Museum in Sydney has returned Ivi Tupuna, or ancestral remains, to the people of Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island) 144 years after they were first stolen from the island’s sacred burial sites. — News Desk, Artforum, 6 Aug. 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