ancestral

adjective

an·​ces·​tral an-ˈse-strəl How to pronounce ancestral (audio)
: of, relating to, or inherited from an ancestor
ancestral estates
ancestrally adverb

Examples of ancestral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Budj Bim remained in the ancestral homeland of the Gunditjmara people. Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025 Not home in the physical sense, but in the ancestral one — that instinctive recognition that lives in the bones. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 22 Oct. 2025 The first Universal Frankenstein movie to be produced after James Whale’s masterful diptych loses Colin Clive as Henry Frankenstein, jumping ahead to his adult son Wolf (Basil Rathbone) returning to his ancestral home, where the resentful villagers give him the cold shoulder. Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025 With establishing shots of the majestic Armenian highlands, the documentary makes a concerted effort to trace the deep-rooted mythos of this ancestral land before delving into its subjects. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ancestral

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ancestral was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Ancestral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestral. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

ancestral

adjective
an·​ces·​tral an-ˈses-trəl How to pronounce ancestral (audio)
: of, relating to, or developed from an ancestor
ancestral home
ancestrally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on ancestral

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