as in lineage
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
a Cambodian immigrant who can trace her Khmer ancestry as far back as the 16th century
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ancestry
Along with the obvious reasons—the rich culture, history, and culinary heritage—Realtor reports that Americans with Italian ancestry who can trace their ancestry back no more than two generations can also apply for citizenship, which facilitates long-term residency in the country.
—
Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
Many trace their ancestry to countries that France colonized.
—Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
California is suing the consumer genetics company formerly known as 23andMe over its 2023 breach of ancestry and genetic data, one of the most consequential data breaches ever.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 28 May 2026
By the end of Land, no matter what your ancestry, these are your people.
—Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestry
Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
Many trace their ancestry to countries that France colonized.
—Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
California is suing the consumer genetics company formerly known as 23andMe over its 2023 breach of ancestry and genetic data, one of the most consequential data breaches ever.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 28 May 2026
By the end of Land, no matter what your ancestry, these are your people.
—Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestry
Noun
-
Surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, the city preserves the traditions of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples through towering cedar totem poles that tell stories of family lineage and legend.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
SecureBio can sequence a genome in five days, but the genetic analysis can reveal much more information, such as a virus’s variant or lineage.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The outdoor family-friendly event features Highland dancing, children’s activities, the largest bagpiping championship in North America, iconic caber toss, Scottish genealogy and history, classic British car show and a Scottish petting zoo.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
When vacation photos get scraped, genealogy details appear online or public records get connected to family information, ongoing removal requests can help keep that information from staying in circulation.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
In late May, last week, a USTR delegation led by Deputy Ambassador Jeff Goettman traveled to Mexico to talk about economic security and rules of origin for certain industrial goods, and a Mexican trade delegation is slated to visit Washington next week to discuss the trade of agricultural products.—
Kate Nishimura,
Footwear News,
10 June 2026
-
Competing tales about the origins of kugelhopf variously feature the three magi, battles at the gates of Vienna and a teenaged Marie Antoinette.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
It could be argued that the ideal audience for a song consists of people who can appreciate its pedigree—all of the influences that combined to inspire that specific work.—
Juliet Izon,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
-
Miller’s pedigree as the daughter of arguably the most famous American playwright of all time unmistakably looms over her work and public profile.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Both of his parents are of Italian descent, with family lineages originating in the Calabria region of southern Italy.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
-
Why Stanley Tucci Is Synonymous With Italy Both of Tucci’s parents are of Italian descent, with family lineages originating in the Calabria region of southern Italy.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The Primm family, owners of the land that includes three casino resorts and other businesses along the 15 Freeway, announced Tuesday a partnership intended to save the struggling state-line strip and hundreds of jobs.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
Although not as wealthy as Jackson, Jones has also dug deep into his own pockets to keep his campaign afloat, lending it more than $16 million from his family’s fortune.—
Shannon McCaffrey,
AJC.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The district says residents can help limit mosquito breeding by removing standing water around their homes, including in buckets, bird baths and other containers where mosquitoes can lay eggs.—
Joe Van Ryn,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
-
Its primary objective is to analyze the performance of the plant’s breeding blanket, a component that absorbs thermal energy from the fusion core and provides a radiation barrier for the surrounding magnetic systems.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ancestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestry. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
