ancestry

noun
UK: /ˈænsestri/
US: /ˈænsestri/

  1. The origin or background of someone, especially in terms of family.

    1. My ancestry is Irish. [ ] [ ]
    2. Records of ancestry are kept to explore family history in detail. [ ] [ ]

  2. The series of ancestors from whom a person is descended.

    1. She is proud of her ancestry. [ ] [ ]
    2. Many people research their ancestry to find out about their family's past. [ ] [ ]

  3. The origin or development of something.

    1. This custom is of ancient ancestry. [ ] [ ]
    2. The ancestry of this design can be traced back to ancient Egypt. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

heritage extraction descent parentage origin background lineage

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "ancestry" in English means: The origin or background of someone, especially in terms of family., The series of ancestors from whom a person is descended., The origin or development of something..

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

Synonyms for "ancestry": heritage, extraction, descent, parentage, origin, background, lineage.

Example usage of "ancestry": "My ancestry is Irish.". More examples on the page.