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
In Patagonia’s mountains, Adelaida, the last of a Chilean indigenous people, resists relocation as a mining project threatens her ancestral land.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
An Ontario couple’s pandemic-era home renovation turned into a financial nightmare after ancestral Indigenous remains were discovered on their property, triggering a provincial law that forces homeowners to fund costly archaeological investigations with little hope of relief.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
The discovery of ancestral remains on their traditional territory carries profound cultural and spiritual weight.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
Some have even begun constructing homes there, claiming ancestral land rights.
—Eissa Dafallah, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestral
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John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
An Ontario couple’s pandemic-era home renovation turned into a financial nightmare after ancestral Indigenous remains were discovered on their property, triggering a provincial law that forces homeowners to fund costly archaeological investigations with little hope of relief.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
The discovery of ancestral remains on their traditional territory carries profound cultural and spiritual weight.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
Some have even begun constructing homes there, claiming ancestral land rights.
—Eissa Dafallah, NBC news, 8 Mar. 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 14 Mar. 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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