ancestor

noun
UK: /ˈænsestər/
US: /ˈænsestər/

  1. A person from whom you are descended.

    1. My ancestor came to America in the 1800s. [ ] [ ]
    2. We honor our ancestor who fought for civil rights and equality. [ ] [ ]

  2. An early type of animal or plant from which others evolve.

    1. The dinosaur is an ancestor of modern birds. [ ] [ ]
    2. Scientists study the fossil record to understand the common ancestor of apes and humans. [ ] [ ]

  3. Something from which other things are developed.

    1. The computer is a direct ancestor of the calculator. [ ] [ ]
    2. Many consider the printing press to be an ancestor of modern media and communications. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

forebear predecessor progenitor

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "ancestor" in English means: A person from whom you are descended., An early type of animal or plant from which others evolve., Something from which other things are developed..

The phonetic transcription of "ancestor" is /ˈænsestər/ in British English and /ˈænsestər/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "ancestor": forebear, predecessor, progenitor.

Example usage of "ancestor": "My ancestor came to America in the 1800s.". More examples on the page.