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
Tilson Thomas said that the key to understanding him was understanding his extraordinary ancestry.
—
Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
In this full-length interview, geneticist David Reich explains how new findings have challenged the family tree model of ancestry and revealed a past shaped by migration, interbreeding, disappearance, and constant change.
—Big Think, 21 Apr. 2026
Drawing on data from 26,000 people on the continent and some 80,000 of African ancestry elsewhere, researchers found new genetic variants driving chronic kidney disease, offering potential targets for future drugs or diagnostic tools.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 20 Apr. 2026
The body becomes a ritual instrument embedded in land, myth, and ancestry.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestry
Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
In this full-length interview, geneticist David Reich explains how new findings have challenged the family tree model of ancestry and revealed a past shaped by migration, interbreeding, disappearance, and constant change.
—Big Think, 21 Apr. 2026
Drawing on data from 26,000 people on the continent and some 80,000 of African ancestry elsewhere, researchers found new genetic variants driving chronic kidney disease, offering potential targets for future drugs or diagnostic tools.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 20 Apr. 2026
The body becomes a ritual instrument embedded in land, myth, and ancestry.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ancestry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestry
Noun
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The lineage begins well before him.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Shaped by our lineage, our hair is undeniably beautiful.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The case stands as a powerful example of how advancements in forensic science, particularly utilizing DNA and forensic genetic genealogy, continue to transform cold case investigations, delivering answers even decades after crimes occur.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Participants will hear a presentation from SARA archivist Melissa Nesbitt on how to start their own genealogy research.—
Eric E. Harrison,
Arkansas Online,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Its exact origins are unknown, but it was most likely discovered in South India in the 13th century.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
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Using animations of Eddie and talking-head interviews with famous fans including Javier Bardem, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Chuck D, and the Cure’s Simon Gallup, among others, the doc traces the group’s East London origins, galvanizing a loyal fanbase that now sees them in arenas and stadiums.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The 87-acre lakefront spread arrives with a notable pedigree.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
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Putting in the elbow grease can be more powerful than a flashy college degree or pedigree—and the former Goldman Sachs CEO said great careers are actually ripe for the picking if professionals seize the moment and work hard.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Just as significantly, the group broke down racial barriers in the 1960s, when the sight of three young women of Puerto Rican and Black descent singing pop music on television and opening concerts for the Beatles was a rarity.—
Chris Morris,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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Gonzalez is of Cuban descent, bald, with a brown beard and mustache.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Aspen Wooten, a talented tennis prodigy who moved from Memphis to Lake Nona with her family as a ninth grader, had accomplished just about everything available in her four-year high school career — including winning more than 100 matches.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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Knowing that my picture, whether flattering or not, is going to be posted (or shared with our family) is extremely daunting.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Under a rule enacted by the state legislature in hopes of stimulating the breeding program, a race-a-day restricted to Illinois-breds went into effect at Illinois tracks in 1968.—
Neil Milbert,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Friends and relatives said Carter, who lived in Valley Stream, made money breeding dogs.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ancestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestry. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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