ancestral

adjective

an·​ces·​tral an-ˈse-strəl How to pronounce ancestral (audio)
: of, relating to, or inherited from an ancestor
ancestral estates
ancestrally adverb

Examples of ancestral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Usha is the daughter of Indian immigrants, with ancestral roots in Vadluru village, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2025 Without guardrails, these systems scrape, remix, and reproduce sacred imagery, ceremonial language, and ancestral designs — usually without consent or context. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Idaho tribes gather in Boise to commemorate ancestral homelands June 14, 2024 4:00 AM This story was originally published April 16, 2025 at 1:10 PM. Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2025 This public generational saga goes from ancestral investigation (the Fonda clan migrated from Holland to upstate New York in 1654, then Nebraska, where Henry was born) to cultural exegesis. Armond White, National Review, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ancestral

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ancestral was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Ancestral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestral. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

ancestral

adjective
an·​ces·​tral an-ˈses-trəl How to pronounce ancestral (audio)
: of, relating to, or developed from an ancestor
ancestral home
ancestrally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on ancestral

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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