ancestry

noun

ˈan-ˌse-strē How to pronounce ancestry (audio)
Definition of ancestrynext
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

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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 The nomadic ancestry of the Plains Tribes carries on today through powwows. — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 As of 2023, census estimates put the Chicago-area Polish ancestry population north of 720,000, the highest concentration of any metropolitan region in the country. — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 15 July 2026 The complaints center around the Fair Employment and Housing Act, a state law that prohibits landlords from discriminating against potential tenants based on things like race, gender, ancestry and citizenship. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026 Other leads in the film include Matt Damon and Tom Holland, who have no Greek ancestry. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ancestry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestry
  1. lineage
  2. genealogy
  3. origin
  4. pedigree
  5. descent
  6. family
  7. breeding
Noun
  • The governance challenge must shift our focus from data lineage to decision lineage.
    — Lalit Ahuja, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • The couple equally come from famous lineage, as Kinski-Jones’ father is the late iconic producer Quincy Jones.
    — Ayana Herndon, InStyle, 25 July 2026
Definition of lineage
Noun
  • The identification of the Golden State Killer in 2018 was the first time a major public case had been solved through genetic genealogy, according to Moore.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • Investigative genetic genealogy provides lead Investigators uploaded the DNA profile of the unknown woman into CODIS, the national law enforcement database, but couldn’t come up with a match.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
Definition of genealogy
Noun
  • With origins in Spain, the style has become a go-to for editors, influencers, and celebrities alike — appreciated for its comfort and wearability in flat or high wedge form, on surfaces from concrete and grass to sand.
    — Sophie Dunne, Footwear News, 23 July 2026
  • The hypervirulent subpopulation had a fitness disadvantage in the urinary tract—the origin of the infection.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026
Definition of origin
Noun
  • Savage, meanwhile, has the pedigree as a 2019 first-round pick.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • But his family’s baseball pedigree has already taken him to his fair share of big-league ballparks.
    — Tyler M. Carmona July 16, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of pedigree
Noun
  • And no contemporary actor can actually claim the same descent as Helen, who hatched from a swan’s egg.
    — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • In the water, the Diving app can track depth and temperature as well as safe ascent and descent speeds.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026
Definition of descent
Noun
  • For families Families are welcome and extra beds can be added, but bear in mind the elevation, rocky terrain and malaria risk.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026
  • The Sun in your 4th House of Home opposes Pluto in your 10th House of Career, stirring pressure around family needs, professional expectations, privacy, and control.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2026
Definition of family
Noun
  • To mitigate those losses, scientists are developing a wide range of tools—combining advances in genetics, breeding, and crop physiology—to make agriculture more resilient to climate risks.
    — Derek Norman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained can also help reduce grasshopper populations by destroying their breeding habitat.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
Definition of breeding

Browse Nearby Words

ancestries
ancestry
anchor
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Cite this Entry

“Ancestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestry. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ancestry

Nglish: Translation of ancestry for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ancestry

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