An ancestor or parent from whom a person, animal, or plant is descended or originates. The ancient tree is considered the progenitor of all the other trees in the forest.
A person who originates an artistic, political, or intellectual movement. He is often regarded as the progenitor of modern jazz music.
Biology: A cell or organism that directly gives rise to a more differentiated cell or organism; a precursor. Hematopoietic progenitor cells differentiate into various blood cell types.