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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ancestry
This practice started among communities with northern ancestry but became the norm after the two communities came together.
—
Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 29 Apr. 2026
In this collection of personal essays, keim explores estrangement from family in parallel to estrangement from land and ancestry.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Cantens, who is American of Cuban ancestry, is fluent in English and Spanish.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Millions of Americans are pursuing Canadian citizenship after a law that took effect in December made the process significantly easier for people with Canadian ancestry, prompting immigration lawyers on both sides of the border to report a surge in applications.
—CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestry
Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 29 Apr. 2026
In this collection of personal essays, keim explores estrangement from family in parallel to estrangement from land and ancestry.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Cantens, who is American of Cuban ancestry, is fluent in English and Spanish.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Millions of Americans are pursuing Canadian citizenship after a law that took effect in December made the process significantly easier for people with Canadian ancestry, prompting immigration lawyers on both sides of the border to report a surge in applications.
—CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestry
Noun
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The Eta Aquarids have a most interesting lineage.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
4 May 2026
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For their first album in seven years, American Football look to a lineage of mortality-haunted, late-era landmarks.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
4 May 2026
Noun
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The nonprofit has partnered with several private forensics labs across the country and is fundraising to cover the costs of DNA work like investigative genetic genealogy, or IGG, which was crucial in initially identifying Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to the crime.—
Kevin Fixler
May 11,
Idaho Statesman,
11 May 2026
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Lisa Collins, a forensic scientist at Washington State Patrol, told CNN new software and strides in genetic genealogy are two relatively recent watersheds in DNA technology that have allowed for breakthroughs in cold cases like these.—
Nina Giraldo,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Noun
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The excess is real; the debate concerns its origin.—
Paul M. Sutter,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
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That begins with a reasonably effective prologue that depicts the fall of her childhood home, Edenia, and gives Kitana’s origin a more solid foundation than any of her cast mates.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Green then shifted into a rare moment of veteran self-awareness and admitted the Warriors are in a transitional phase, but insisted the pedigree matters more than the box score.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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Miller, Smith and Guilbeau are a trio of undrafted rookies with interesting college pedigrees.—
Mike Kaye
Updated May 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Stark, having been elected governor and already well along in his fateful descent from an idealistic man of the people to an entirely corrupt megalomaniac, is on the way to visit his childhood home.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
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The Cudi tour moment felt like a dam breaking, underscoring a years-long public descent into the darker corners of conspiracy theorizing, through which her positioning relative to a revolutionary ethic has dramatically changed.—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas did not discuss Mott’s extensive criminal history at a news conference Tuesday morning but noted that investigators were reaching out to his family and those who knew him seeking additional information about his motivations.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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The Yellowstone universe includes several spinoffs that explore the Dutton family's legacy across different generations.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Plus, the running water deters mosquitoes from laying eggs—unlike stillwater, which can become a breeding hotspot.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 May 2026
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Modern breeding has introduced several hybrid cultivars, such as ‘Dragon Wings’ which offer improved flowering.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ancestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestry. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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