ancestry
12 synonyms and 2 antonyms for ancestry, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The line of ancestors a person descends from; one's family origins or heritage.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use ancestry
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
trace your ancestry
mixed ancestry
of noble ancestry
ancestry test
Etymology
From Middle English auncestrie, from Old French ancesserie, ultimately from the same root as ancestor.
Full origin of ancestry →Frequently asked questions
What does “ancestry” mean?
The word “ancestry” means the line of ancestors a person descends from; one's family origins or heritage. In plain terms, your family history — who your ancestors were and where they came from.
How do you pronounce “ancestry”?
“Ancestry” is pronounced AN-sehs-tree (/ˈæn.sɛs.tɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “ancestry” in a sentence?
Here is “ancestry” used in a sentence: “She discovered her ancestry included both Irish and Nigerian roots.”
What is another word for “ancestry”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ancestry” include provenance, parentage and descent.
What part of speech is “ancestry”?
“Ancestry” is a noun.
Where does the word “ancestry” come from?
The word “ancestry” comes from Old French. From Middle English auncestrie, from Old French ancesserie, ultimately from the same root as ancestor.
Is “ancestry” a common word?
“Ancestry” is an uncommon word in modern English.
