posterity

[po-ster-i-tee]

noun

1. succeeding or future generations collectively.

   Judgment of this age must be left to posterity.

2. all descendants of one person.

   His fortune was gradually dissipated by his posterity.

posterity

/ pɒˈstɛrɪtɪ /

noun

1. future or succeeding generations

2. all of one's descendants

Word History and Origins

Origin of posterity¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English posterite, from Old French postérité, from Latin posteritāt-, stem of posteritās, noun derivative of posterus “coming after”; posterior, -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of posterity¹

C14: from French postérité, from Latin posteritās future generations, from posterus coming after, from post after

Example Sentences

That reluctance, he said, “does a disservice not just to us in this moment — it does a disservice to posterity that’s going to be looking back on this moment.”

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No actor could vanquish the memory preserved for posterity in Elia Kazan’s film.

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The case of Drakeo is distinct, and not just because his art and iconography have achieved posterity.

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“I like the idea of creating a space where you would continually feel safe, no matter where you are. I want to leave that to posterity.”

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Antigua and Barbuda's traditional food is just one aspect of the work under way to preserve the twin isles' distinct features for posterity.

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