ancestry
noun
an·ces·try
ˈan-ˌse-strē 
Synonyms
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
According to the National Park Service, 40% of us trace our ancestry through Ellis Island, the East Coast immigration station that operated between 1892 and 1954.
—
Nick Gillespie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Eight decades ago, federal lawyers wrestled with this same dilemma as the government imprisoned more than 100,000 innocent Japanese Americans from the West Coast on account of their ancestry.
—Eric Muller, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025
The Lumbee Tribe, which traces its ancestry back hundreds of years to survivors of other tribal nations, is recognized as Native American by the state of North Carolina but has been denied recognition by the federal government.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
Because these were breeding cows, their posh names always referenced their ancestry.
—Leslie Jamison, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ancestry 
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Nick Gillespie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Eight decades ago, federal lawyers wrestled with this same dilemma as the government imprisoned more than 100,000 innocent Japanese Americans from the West Coast on account of their ancestry.
—Eric Muller, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2025
The Lumbee Tribe, which traces its ancestry back hundreds of years to survivors of other tribal nations, is recognized as Native American by the state of North Carolina but has been denied recognition by the federal government.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
Because these were breeding cows, their posh names always referenced their ancestry.
—Leslie Jamison, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ancestry
Dictionary Entries Near ancestry
Cite this Entry
“Ancestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ancestry. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ancestry
noun
an·ces·try
ˈan-ˌses-trē
1
: line of descent
2
: one's ancestors
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