progenitor

[ proh-jen-i-ter ]

/ proʊˈdʒɛn ɪ tər /

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See synonyms for: progenitor / progenitors on Thesaurus.com

noun

a biologically related ancestor: a progenitor of the species.

a person or thing that first indicates a direction, originates something, or serves as a model; predecessor; precursor: the progenitor of modern painting.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of progenitor

1350–1400; Middle English <Latin prōgenitor the founder of a family. See pro-¹, genitor

OTHER WORDS FROM progenitor

pro·gen·i·to·ri·al

[proh-jen-i-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-], /proʊˌdʒɛn ɪˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr-/, adjectivepro·gen·i·tor·ship, noun

Words nearby progenitor

profusive, prog, progametangium, progamete, progenitive, progenitor, progenitor cell, progeny, progeria, pro-German, progestational

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use progenitor in a sentence

There is no direct evidence for this, nor any indication that SARS-CoV-2 or a progenitor was being studied at the lab, let alone that someone who worked there was infected.
The lab leak hypothesis — true or not — should teach us a lesson|Umair Irfan|August 27, 2021|Vox
It was also a recognition that its wild progenitor had been all but destroyed during the preceding century thanks to the invention of the steel plow.
A native plant designer’s memoir reflects on a life in the field|Adrian Higgins|August 25, 2021|Washington Post
Reading the researchers’ results, she says, “I got pretty excited, especially about the identification of the progenitor.”
Scientists spotted an electron-capture supernova for the first time|Emily Conover|July 1, 2021|Science News
Some of these new kids on the seltzer block are far different than their progenitors.
What’s the best hard seltzer? We tried 18 new flavors to find out.|Emily Heil|May 13, 2021|Washington Post

The cool, large, yellow progenitor of SN 2019yvr, on the other hand, appeared to be padded with lots of hydrogen.
A rare glimpse of a star before it went supernova defies expectations|Maria Temming|May 5, 2021|Science News
That extra spin in the progenitor star might have been enough to give the neutron star more magnetic power, making it a magnetar.
The Weirdest Object in the Universe|Matthew R. Francis|May 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So the name is appropriate if this machine is the progenitor of a robot race that will one day go to war.
The 'Killer Robot' Olympics|Christopher Dickey|December 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
FYMW is, in some ways, the progenitor of menswear on Tumblr.
Fuck Yeah Menswear Becomes a Book|Benjamin Schor|November 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Stylistically it is a progenitor of Invisible Man, which Ellison described as “realism that goes beyond and becomes surrealism.”
American Nightmare: Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man’ at 60|Nathaniel Rich|June 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He is a progenitor of what could be called the degenerate school of American fiction.
American Dreams: ‘Tobacco Road’ by Erskine Caldwell|Nathaniel Rich|April 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He assumed to be a king; but the son of Ocrisia became one in reality, and instituted games in honour of his divine progenitor.
Ancient Faiths And Modern|Thomas Inman
The pure-bred Peruvian horse is more elegantly formed than his Andalusian progenitor.
Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests|J. J. von Tschudi
The natives call this little animal the Cui del Montes, and they believe it to be the progenitor of the tame Guinea pig.
Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests|J. J. von Tschudi
Each day foretells the next, if one could read the signs; to-day is the progenitor of to-morrow.
A Year in the Fields|John Burroughs
Those who hold that Adam was the progenitor of the Jews only, and not of the whole human race.
The Thoughts of Blaise Pascal|Blaise Pascal

British Dictionary definitions for progenitor

progenitor

/ (prəʊˈdʒɛnɪtə) /

noun

a direct ancestor

an originator or founder of a future development; precursor

Word Origin for progenitor

C14: from Latin: ancestor, from pro- 1 + genitor parent, from gignere to beget

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

progenitor

Origin of progenitor

OTHER WORDS FROM progenitor

Words nearby progenitor

Words related to progenitor

How to use progenitor in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for progenitor

Word Origin for progenitor