Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
common ancestor
Noun
/ˈkɒmən ˈænsɛstər/
Definition
A common ancestor is a species from which two or more different species have evolved.
Examples
- Humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor that lived several million years ago.
- The concept of a common ancestor helps explain the similarities between different species.
- In evolutionary biology, scientists study the traits of a common ancestor to understand the divergence of species.
Meaning
It refers to an ancestral species that gave rise to multiple descendant species over time through the process of evolution.
Synonyms
- Progenitor
- Ancestor
- Forebear
