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

Their Tibetan ancestry dates back thousands of years to when they were bred as an interior sentinel in the Buddhist monasteries. —Katelyn Chef, Martha Stewart, 12 Apr. 2026

After all, many of us, including those of European ancestry, are a type of invasive species. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026

The stories in this collection, whose protagonists are women and girls of Hawaiian and Japanese ancestry, are both otherworldly and rooted in the bodily experiences of its characters. —Emma Alpern, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026

The rs10305420 variant is present in about 40 percent of people with European and Middle Eastern ancestry, according to the study. —Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 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