Descendant
/dɪˈsɛndənt/
Definitions
A person, animal, or plant that is the offspring of a particular ancestor.
/dɪˈsɛndənt/
A person, animal, or plant that is descended from another.
He is a direct descendant of a famous historical figure.
💡 Simply: Imagine your great-grandparents. You, your parents, and all the people who come after you in the family are all descendants of those original people. It's like a family chain!
👶 For kids: A descendant is someone who comes from a person's family, like your children or grandchildren.
More Examples
The company was passed down through several generations of descendants.
The descendants of the original settlers still live in the area.
How It's Used
"The family traced their ancestry back through several generations of descendants."
"The descendants of the original species adapted to their new environment."
From Middle French *descendant*, from Latin *descendens*, present participle of *descendere* ('to descend').
The word 'descendant' has been used in English since the 15th century, primarily in genealogical contexts.
Memory tip
Think of 'descent' - going down the family tree; your 'descendant' is going down from you.