ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ancestry

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈænsɛstɹi// UK //ˈænsɛstɹi// an·ces·try

n. your family history and the people you are related to. You use this word when talking about where your family comes from or who your ancestors were.

n. the line of descent of a person, family, or group; their genealogical background. Uncountable in its abstract sense; countable when referring to distinct ethnic or national origins.


SIMPLE

She is proud of her Irish ancestry.

CONTEXTUAL

The museum exhibit explores the ancestry of early settlers in the region.

COMPLEX

Tracing one's ancestry often reveals unexpected connections to distant cultures and historical migrations that shaped modern identities.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English auncestrie, from Old French ancesserie. See ancestor.

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