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

The company’s at-home kits allow customers to exchange a saliva sample for insights into their genome relating to things such as their possible ancestry, health, and food preferences. —Bruce Gil, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024

Freeman’s ancestry traces back to the Mormon pioneers who sank roots in Mesa in the late 1870s. —Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 30 Oct. 2024

For the last decade, 23andMe has been known worldwide for offering genetic testing, ancestry tracing and health information to its customers. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024

So much of the style on display at an HBCU homecoming—from the way attendees are dressed to the sororities stepping and strolling on the yard to the fellowship events before the game—has roots in our deep and complex ancestry. —Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, 15 Oct. 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