Ancestral: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to objects, places, or characteristics that belonged to one's ancestors, often emphasizing a sense of heritage and continuity.

• The family gathered at their ancestral home for the reunion.
• He cherished the ancestral necklace passed down through generations.

Used when discussing traits, titles, or diseases that are passed from parents to their children through genes.

• The hereditary condition affected several members of the family.
• She inherited her father's hereditary title.

Describes something received from predecessors, typically property, money, or traits, often emphasizing direct transfer from one generation to another.

• She inherited her grandmother's ring.
• He inherited his father's blue eyes.

Refers to customs, beliefs, or practices that are handed down within a culture or family, highlighting long-established norms.

• They followed traditional wedding customs.
• The family prepares a traditional meal every holiday.

Describes events, artifacts, or periods that relate to history or happened in the past.

• The castle is a significant historical landmark.
• They are studying historical documents from the 19th century.

Used when referring to something belonging to or derived from ancestors, such as traditions, possessions, or homes.

• The family gathered at the ancestral home for holidays
• They followed an ancestral tradition that goes back many generations

Refers to the earlier generations, especially those who have significantly influenced historical or cultural heritage.

• The nation pays homage to its forefathers who fought for independence
• The values taught by our forefathers still guide us

Similar to 'forefather' but specifically referring to female ancestors who have significantly influenced history or culture.

• The women’s rights movement honors its foremothers
• She learned many of her cooking skills from her foremothers

Used to denote a person from whom one is descended, often in a historical or respectful context.

• Our forebears laid the foundation for the freedoms we enjoy today
• He takes great pride in the achievements of his forebears

Often used to refer to the first known member of a family or the originator of a line of descent, sometimes carrying a formal or scientific connotation.

• In biology, the progenitor of a species is often studied to understand evolution
• He traced his lineage back to a progenitor who arrived in the 17th century