1. countable noun [usually plural, usually with poss]
Someone's descendants are the people in later generations who are related to them.
They are descendants of the original English and Scottish settlers. [+ of]
...Lord Cochrane and his descendants.
Synonyms: successor, child, issue, son More Synonyms of descendant
2. countable noun
Something modern which developed from an older thing can be called a descendantof it.
His design was a descendant of a 1956 device. [+ of]
They are the descendants of plants imported by the early settlers.
descendant in British English
(dɪˈsɛndənt)
noun
1.
a person, animal, or plant when described as descended from an individual, race, species, etc
2.
something that derives or is descended from an earlier form
adjective
3. a variant spelling of descendent
Descendant in British English
(dɪˈsɛndənt)
noun
astrology
the point on the ecliptic lying directly opposite the Ascendant
descendant in American English
(diˈsɛndənt; dɪˈsɛndənt)
adjective
1.
descending
: also deˈscendent
noun
2.
a person who is an offspring, however remote, of a certain ancestor, family, group, etc.
3.
something that derives from an earlier form
Word origin
ME descendaunt < OFr descendant < L descendens, prp. of descendere: see descend
Examples of 'descendant' in a sentence
descendant
But the fact of the matter is I am a direct descendant of royalty.
The Sun (2016)
We are all descendants of one of these men.
Christianity Today (2000)
The company is due to announce the find tomorrow at a press conference attended by a descendant of one of the crew.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Luckily, one of their descendants is on hand to help.
The Sun (2010)
Modern descendants of these simple, handmade designs can easily cost four figures.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He played the cover drive as if he was the direct descendant of Zeus.
The Sun (2012)
A royal art association has contacted the descendants of the original owner to hand back the work.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The most wonderful thing is that some direct descendants of the original crew of the Mystery came to meet us.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If we don't make a profit on it, then one of our descendants will.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The direct descendants of the apprentice societies were the young men's associations that grew up during the early 1800s.
Rotundo, E. Anthony American Manhood: Transformations in Masculinity from the Revolution to the ModernEra (1993)
And the benefits can be felt for four generations, according to a study of 14,000 people and their descendants.
The Sun (2012)
Often the founders or their descendants, they tend to take a longer-term view than purely financial investors and are more concerned with issues such as reputation.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
descendant
British English: descendant NOUN
Someone's descendants are the people in later generations who are related to them.
They are descendants of the original settlers.
American English: descendant
Brazilian Portuguese: descendente
Chinese: 后代
European Spanish: descendiente
French: descendant
German: Nachkomme
Italian: discendente
Japanese: 子孫
Korean: 자손
European Portuguese: descendente
Latin American Spanish: descendiente
Chinese translation of 'descendant'
descendant
(dɪˈsɛndənt)
n(c)
后(後)裔 (hòuyì)
(noun)
Definition
a person or animal descended from an individual, race, or species
They are descendants of the original settlers.
Synonyms
successor
He set out several principles that he hopes will guide his successors.
child
How many children do you have?
issue
He died without issue in 1946.
son
He shared a pizza with his son, Laurence.
daughter
heir
the heir to the throne
offspring
She was less anxious about her offspring than she had been.
progeny
They set aside funds to ensure the welfare of their progeny.
scion
He was the scion of an aristocratic family that lost its fortune in the revolution.
inheritor
Two thirds of inheritors promptly sold the houses they were left.
Opposites
predecessor
,
ancestor
,
precursor
,
forerunner
,
forebear
,
antecedent
,
forefather
,
progenitor
Additional synonyms
in the sense of child
Definition
a son or daughter
How many children do you have?
Synonyms
offspring,
issue,
descendant,
progeny
in the sense of daughter
Definition
a girl or woman who comes from a certain place or is connected with a certain thing
Synonyms
descendant,
girl
in the sense of heir
Definition
the person legally succeeding to the property of a deceased person