ancestry
noun
an·ces·try
ˈan-ˌse-strē 
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
Although ancient American ancestry in modern dogs has mostly vanished, there is at least one breed that still carries the native legacy from thousands of years ago: Chihuahuas.
—
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 18 June 2025
In one Tulsa, Oklahoma classroom, 74-year-old Sharon Mitchell is discovering ancient Egypt, feeling the pride of her ancestry.
—Kristal Brent Zook, Essence, 16 June 2025
In Ireland, too, around 4,700 people residing in the United States applied for Irish citizenship based on their ancestry during the same period, according to the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — the highest quarterly figure in a decade.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
The test listed her ancestry as 99.9 per cent East Asian and Indigenous American.
—Barbara Demick, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestry
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Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 18 June 2025
In one Tulsa, Oklahoma classroom, 74-year-old Sharon Mitchell is discovering ancient Egypt, feeling the pride of her ancestry.
—Kristal Brent Zook, Essence, 16 June 2025
In Ireland, too, around 4,700 people residing in the United States applied for Irish citizenship based on their ancestry during the same period, according to the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — the highest quarterly figure in a decade.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
The test listed her ancestry as 99.9 per cent East Asian and Indigenous American.
—Barbara Demick, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancestry
Cite this Entry
“Ancestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestry. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ancestry
noun
an·ces·try
ˈan-ˌses-trē
1
: line of descent
2
: one's ancestors
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