progenitor

noun

pro·​gen·​i·​tor prō-ˈje-nə-tər 

prə-

1

a

: an ancestor in the direct line : forefather

b

: a biologically ancestral form

2

: precursor, originator

progenitors of socialist ideas

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

progenitor cells

Synonyms

• ancestor
• father
• forebear
• forbear
• forebearer
• forefather
• grandfather
• primogenitor

Examples of progenitor in a Sentence

the progenitors of modern art

wild cats that were the progenitors of the house cat

Recent Examples on the Web

When fish suffer retinal damage, the Müller glia cells differentiate into retinal progenitor cells, which generate new neurons and help the fish keep their vision functioning properly. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 11 June 2025

Sly Stone, funk-rock progenitor and leader of the Family Stone, has died at 82. —Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025

Matsumoto went on to develop another SNK stalwart in Art of Fighting, while Nishiyama was put in charge of the progenitor series. —Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2025

The treatment was derived from human embryonic stem cells, which researchers had coaxed into becoming immature brain cells called neuron progenitors. —Jon Hamilton, NPR, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English progenitour, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin prōgenitor "individual from whom a person or family is descended, ancestor," agentive derivative of prōgignere "to produce as offspring, bring into being, give rise to" (from prō- pro- entry 2 + gignere "to bring into being, beget, give birth to"), after genitor "father, parent, originator," going back to Indo-European *ǵenh₁- "engender, beget" + *-tor/*-tōr, agent suffix, from which also Greek genétōr "father, begetter, ancestor," Sanskrit janitar-, janitá "father, progenitor" — more at kin entry 1

Note: Alternatively genitor has been explained as a new formation based on genitus, past participle of gignere. The older and still somewhat more attractive view sees genitus as the new formation, based on the perfect genuī or on genitor itself, after the connection with the original verbal adjective (g)nātus (going back to zero-grade *ǵn̥h₁-to-) became weakened.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for progenitor

• senator

Medical Definition

progenitor

noun

pro·​gen·​i·​tor prō-ˈjen-ət-ər, prə- 

1

: an ancestor of an individual in a direct line of descent along which some or all of the ancestral genes could theoretically have passed

2

: a biologically ancestral form