offshoot

[awf-shoot, of-]

noun

1. a branch or lateral shoot from a main stem, as of a plant.

2. anything conceived of as springing or proceeding from a main stock.

   an offshoot of a discussion.

3. a branch, descendant, or scion of a specific population or family.

offshoot

/ ˈɒfˌʃuːt /

noun

1. a shoot or branch growing from the main stem of a plant

2. something that develops or derives from a principal source or origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of offshoot¹

First recorded in 1665–75; off + shoot ¹

Example Sentences

The Patriotic Millionaires, the British offshoot of a US organisation, is trying to get UK politicians to back a 2% tax on assets over £10m.

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There have been previous anti-asylum seeker protests in Scotland – one was held in Ayr in 2015, called by the Scottish Defence League, an offshoot of the English Defence League.

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There is also a population of Druze, whose religion is an offshoot of Shia Islam with its own unique identity and beliefs, in Israel.

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Sánchez said the attack was perpetrated by the EMC guerrilla group, the largest offshoot of Farc.

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The Brotherhood’s fingerprints are on jihadist groups as wide-ranging as Al Qaeda and Hamas, yet successive American administrations — Republican and Democratic alike — have failed to designate its various offshoots for what they are: terrorist organizations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• outgrowth 
• spin-off