ANCESTRY Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

ancestry

noun

ˈan-ˌse-strē

Definition of ancestry

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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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 Yet their rules, fees, ancestry requirements, and political rights vary widely, risking turning a powerful idea into a collection of competing citizenship sales pitches. — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026 According to Census data taken between 2019 and 2023, the number of residents of Italian ancestry in Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and the Columbia Waterfront District was down 25 percent over the previous 13 years. — Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026 But Shanes questioned whether grouping Jews under a single ethnic category would produce sufficiently specific data for those purposes, or instead obscure differences among Jewish populations with distinct ancestries. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Officials said Krusely, born in 1929, came from Croatian and Yugoslavian ancestry, making the case very challenging due to the low representation in accessible DNA databases. — Brandon Downs, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ancestry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestry

Noun

That means that a transposon is partly responsible for the months-long process of development in utero that’s typical for our lineage, humans included.

— Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
Butte Creek holds one of only three fully wild spring-run populations left in the valley, fish with no hatchery in their lineage.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of lineage

Noun

Santiago, Clark said, is the first person to be convicted by a jury in New York State because of the use of investigative genetic genealogy.

— Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
The Nathan Hale Fife & Drum will perform and there will be a question-and-answer session with experts of the Hale family genealogy.

— Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of genealogy

Noun

Today, the inn is particularly popular with US history buffs thanks to the town’s origins, as well as cyclists coming from the nearby Empire State Trail.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
The core Texas Jewish families traced their origins to Western Europe.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of origin

Noun

Germany’s leading indie fest has long made a specialty of outsiders and oddballs — artists who arrived without pedigree, training programs or an obvious industry slot and built the career anyway.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
Allied with previous victories at Strade Bianche and in Amstel Gold, and Pidcock’s pedigree in long one-day races should not be doubted.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of pedigree

Noun

Woznik is part of Stagg’s tradition with players of Polish descent.

— Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Those of South Asian descent are often seen as having been brought over by the British, while the Chinese are viewed with suspicion due to China’s political interference in Myanmar.

— Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of descent

Noun

The man's family has struggled to get any information from the hospital about his status or location, Lincoln-Goldfinch said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
While speaking to reporters, Janssen recalled learning what had happened to Serkov while having dinner with her family.

— Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of family

Browse Nearby Words

ancestries

ancestry

anchor

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Style

“Ancestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestry. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of ancestry

noun

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