ancestor

noun

an·​ces·​tor ˈan-ˌse-stər 

 also  -sə-

1

a

: one from whom a person is descended and who is usually more remote in the line of descent than a grandparent

Her ancestors came to America in the 1880s.

b

: forefather sense 2

2

: forerunner, prototype

an exhibit of the ancestors of the modern computer

3

: a progenitor (see progenitor sense 1b) of a more recent or existing species or group

the ancestor of the modern horse

Synonyms

• father
• forebear
• forbear
• forebearer
• forefather
• grandfather
• primogenitor
• progenitor

Examples of ancestor in a Sentence

My ancestors came to America during the 1800s.

Her ancestors were great sea captains.

an ancient animal that was the ancestor of the modern horse

The museum included an exhibit showing ancestors of the modern computer.

several languages that are derived from a common ancestor

Latin is the ancestor of Italian and French.

Recent Examples on the Web

The heroine feels a sense of belonging; she is told that this is the home of her ancestors. —Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Martínez sought to both channel their energy and encourage younger generations to pursue the music of their ancestors. —Solcyré Burga, TIME, 5 Jan. 2025

The old rice plantation on Butler Island also has personal significance for Mitchell—her paternal ancestors are from McIntosh County and may have been enslaved there. —Melissa L. Cooper, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

The Mean Girls star discovers that her third great-grandfather was gruesomely murdered in a clip from the season 11 premiere of the PBS show, which sees host Henry Louis Gates Jr. walk famous guests through surprising moments in their ancestors' lives. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ancestre, from Anglo-French, from Latin antecessor predecessor, from antecedere to go before, from ante- + cedere to go

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ancestor

• ancestor worship

Kids Definition

ancestor

noun

an·​ces·​tor ˈan-ˌses-tər 

1

: one from whom an individual, group, or species is descended

2

: something from which something else has developed : forerunner

Etymology

Middle English ancestre "ancestor," from early French ancestre (same meaning), from Latin antecessor "one that goes before," derived from earlier antecedere "to go before," from ante- "before" and cedere "to go, yield" — related to concede, predecessor

Legal Definition

ancestor

noun

an·​ces·​tor

1

a

: a person from whom an individual is descended : ascendant

b

: a person from whom an estate descends compare heir

2

: one that precedes

ancestor in title