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ancestor

2 antonyms and opposites of ancestor, grouped by meaning.

Noun — A person from whom one is descended, further back than a grandparent; a forebear.

Antonyms

How to use ancestor

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

distant ancestor common ancestor ancestors and descendants trace your ancestors

Etymology

From Old French ancestre, from Latin antecessor, "one who goes before" — from ante ("before") + cedere ("to go").

Full origin of ancestor →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ancestor” mean?

The word “ancestor” means a person from whom one is descended, further back than a grandparent; a forebear. In plain terms, someone (or something) that came before you and that you descended from or developed out of.

How do you pronounce “ancestor”?

“Ancestor” is pronounced AN-sehs-tuh (/ˈæn.sɛs.tɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “ancestor” in a sentence?

Here is “ancestor” used in a sentence: “Her ancestors emigrated from Poland in the 1890s.”

What is another word for “ancestor”?

Words with a similar meaning to “ancestor” include antecedent, ascendant, ascendent, forerunner and progenitor.

What is the opposite of “ancestor”?

The opposite of “ancestor” — its antonyms — are descendant and afterbear.

What part of speech is “ancestor”?

“Ancestor” is a noun.

Where does the word “ancestor” come from?

The word “ancestor” comes from Latin. From Old French ancestre, from Latin antecessor, "one who goes before" — from ante ("before") + cedere ("to go").

Is “ancestor” a common word?

“Ancestor” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.