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

In another ironic twist, Kayce sells it for the ridiculously low price of $1.25 an acre, the original price his ancestors paid. —Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Dec. 2024

Hunting is usually instinctual behavior for cats, inherited from their wild ancestors, and while most domestic cats are pro hunters, others back off from this duty or kill prey and then leave it without eating it. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

This is all mirrored by wordless sequences depicting the Simpson family’s prehistoric ancestors, rendered in an entirely different animation style that calls to mind cave etchings, as well as primordial Simpsons designs. —Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024

The emerging picture, paleontologists reported in Nature, is that dinosaur ancestors were omnivorous animals that ate beetles, leaves and a little bit of everything. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024

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