ancestry

noun

an·​ces·​try ˈan-ˌse-strē 

1

: line of descent : lineage

especially : honorable, noble, or aristocratic descent

2

: persons initiating or comprising a line of descent : ancestors

Synonyms

• birth
• blood
• bloodline
• breeding
• descent
• extraction
• family tree
• genealogy
• line
• lineage
• origin
• parentage
• pedigree
• stock
• strain

Examples of ancestry in a Sentence

They claim to be of noble ancestry.

a person of unknown ancestry

She claims to be able to trace her ancestry all the way back to the earliest settlers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Virgo Check in with your brood or look up your family tree to get details on your ancestry. —Lisa Stardust, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024

Chickens Are Miniature Dinosaurs Beyond the anatomical and molecular evidence, chickens exhibit behavioral and neurological traits that echo their prehistoric ancestry, according to a December 2011 article published in Historical Biology. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

Ensure your pets get the best care at a fraction of the cost. Embark DNA Testing Kit: Discover your pet’s breed, ancestry, and health with the Embark DNA Testing Kit, available for up to 40% off during Chewy's Cyber Monday sale. —Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024

Judging from relics uncovered in a cave in Iberia, Spain, the act of collecting may stretch at least as far back as our Neanderthal ancestry. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ancestry

noun

an·​ces·​try ˈan-ˌses-trē 

1

: line of descent

2

: one's ancestors