ancestry

noun

an·​ces·​try ˈan-ˌse-strē 

1

: line of descent : lineage

especially : honorable, noble, or aristocratic descent

2

: persons initiating or comprising a line of descent : ancestors

Synonyms of ancestry

• lineage
• genealogy
• origin
• pedigree
• descent
• family
• breeding

Examples of ancestry in a Sentence

They claim to be of noble ancestry.

a person of unknown ancestry

She claims to be able to trace her ancestry all the way back to the earliest settlers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, 55% of the city's residents have Middle Eastern ancestry, and the mayor, police chief, and schools superintendent are all Muslims of Arab descent. — Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 12 Sep. 2026

That includes not only your own personal memories and experiences, but also ancestry, imagination and empathy. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Opponents warn a single ‘Jewish’ ethnic box oversimplifies diverse Jewish histories and risks echoing past government tracking, amid elevated antisemitism and debate over religion, ancestry and culture. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Yet their rules, fees, ancestry requirements, and political rights vary widely, risking turning a powerful idea into a collection of competing citizenship sales pitches. — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ancestry

noun

an·​ces·​try ˈan-ˌses-trē 

1

: line of descent

2

: one's ancestors