Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ancestry

/ˈæn.sɛs.tɹi/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.50 in modern English

Syllables: an-ces-try
IPA: /ˈæn.sɛs.tɹi/

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The state of being ancestors.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Birth to a noble or high-ranking family, or to someone of honorable descent.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A series of ancestors; the people from whom one is descended.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious, but an ill one more contemptible."
"Tali: My people place a high value on family and ancestry. There's an unspoken expectation that I'll live up to my father's example."
"I can trace my ancestry back to the 18th century."

Etymology

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

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: auncestrie, ancesserie

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈæn.sɛs.tɹi/

Usage

Inflected Forms

ancestries (plural) ancestrie (alternative, obsolete) auncestrie (alternative, obsolete) auncestry (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

coancestry

Frequently Paired Words

ancestor ancestral

Synonyms

lineage stock provenance parentage descent derivation filiation line line of descent bloodline blood line blood

Questions

How do you pronounce ancestry?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈæn.sɛs.tɹi/.
What does ancestry mean?: The state of being ancestors.
Where does ancestry come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce ancestry

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ancestry”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈæn.sɛs.tɹi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “ancestry”.
Repeat and practice — Say “ancestry” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.