B2nounformalsocietyhistory
US/ˈæn.ses.tri/
UK/ˈæn.ses.tri/
the family or ethnic group that a person comes from
In context
She is very proud of her Irish ancestry and her family history.
A DNA test showed that his ancestry is partly Vietnamese.
Many people trace their ancestry back several hundred years.
Words that go with ancestry
verb + noun
- trace ancestryHe spent years trying to trace ancestry through old records.
noun + preposition
- of ancestryShe is of mixed ancestry.
- ancestry ofThe ancestry of this breed goes back centuries.
noun + noun
- family ancestryFamily ancestry websites are growing in popularity.
adjective + noun
- ethnic ancestryEthnic ancestry is not the same as nationality.
adjective + preposition
- proud of ancestryThey are proud of their Asian ancestry.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
an ancestryCorrect: ancestry