adj Uncommon

ancestral

an-SEHS-tuhr-uhl

Ancestral (adj) means belonging to, inherited from, or associated with one's ancestors. Example: “The family returned to their ancestral home in Sicily.”

adj

Belonging to, inherited from, or associated with one's ancestors.

"The family returned to their ancestral home in Sicily."

"He still speaks the ancestral language of his grandparents."

How to use ancestral

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes anything passed down from, or connected to, earlier generations of a family.

Common pairings

ancestral home ancestral land ancestral lineage ancestral roots

Word forms

ancestrals plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “ancestral” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The family returned to their _____ home in Sicily.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman ancestrel, built on ancestre ("ancestor") plus the adjective ending -al.

Origin: Anglo-Norman

Rhymes for ancestral

orchestral

See all rhymes for ancestral →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ancestral” mean?

The word “ancestral” means belonging to, inherited from, or associated with one's ancestors. In plain terms, describes anything passed down from, or connected to, earlier generations of a family.

How do you pronounce “ancestral”?

“Ancestral” is pronounced an-SEHS-tuhr-uhl (/ænˈsɛs.təɹ.əl/ in IPA).

How do you use “ancestral” in a sentence?

Here is “ancestral” used in a sentence: “The family returned to their ancestral home in Sicily.”

What part of speech is “ancestral”?

“Ancestral” is an adjective.

Where does the word “ancestral” come from?

The word “ancestral” comes from Anglo-Norman. From Anglo-Norman ancestrel, built on ancestre ("ancestor") plus the adjective ending -al.

Is “ancestral” a common word?

“Ancestral” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include ancestral:

Words with French origins