ancestry

noun

an·​ces·​try ˈan-ˌse-strē How to pronounce ancestry (audio)
1
: line of descent : lineage
especially : honorable, noble, or aristocratic descent
2
: persons initiating or comprising a line of descent : ancestors

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
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.
People of Mexican ancestry who live in border counties along the Rio Grande, for example, are likely more hawkish on immigration than, say, a Dominican American in Washington Heights in NYC. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025 People with African ancestry tend to have high porosity hair.12 Also, people with gray hair or light-colored hair and people of older age are more likely to have highly porous hair.12 Characteristics of High Porosity Hair High porosity hair can have various characteristics. Sherri Gordon, Health, 4 June 2025 Yet the themes remained disparate, with sophisticated AI integration sitting alongside retro ideas like putting ancestry records on blockchain. Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 The Trump administration through an executive order would make ancestry (with at least one parent a citizen or a legal U.S. resident) a criterion for citizenship. Thomas Wenski, Sun Sentinel, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ancestry

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ancestry was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Ancestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestry. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

ancestry

noun
an·​ces·​try ˈan-ˌses-trē How to pronounce ancestry (audio)
1
: line of descent
2
: one's ancestors

More from Merriam-Webster on ancestry

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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