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
Some of the biggest travel trends expected for 2026 are around ancestry and grocery store tourism.
—
Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Notably, however, among the new appointees to the board were a Black man, another man whose mother is Iranian and whose father is Pakistani, and a man of Spanish ancestry whose parents were Turkish immigrants.
—Richie Zweigenhaft, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
For Brown, and other Virgin Islanders with ancestry tied to Danish colonialism, the recent discussions over Greenland’s future have spurred heightened empathy and concern for the 57,000 inhabitants of the 836,000-square-mile island with a climate much different from their own.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
About half the town’s population claims Danish ancestry, a percentage that has slowly shrunk as younger generations leave for opportunities elsewhere.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestry
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Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Notably, however, among the new appointees to the board were a Black man, another man whose mother is Iranian and whose father is Pakistani, and a man of Spanish ancestry whose parents were Turkish immigrants.
—Richie Zweigenhaft, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
For Brown, and other Virgin Islanders with ancestry tied to Danish colonialism, the recent discussions over Greenland’s future have spurred heightened empathy and concern for the 57,000 inhabitants of the 836,000-square-mile island with a climate much different from their own.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
About half the town’s population claims Danish ancestry, a percentage that has slowly shrunk as younger generations leave for opportunities elsewhere.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestry
Cite this Entry
“Ancestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestry. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ancestry
noun
an·ces·try
ˈan-ˌses-trē
1
: line of descent
2
: one's ancestors
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