a person or animal that is descended from a specific ancestor; an offspring.
something deriving in appearance, function, or general character from an earlier form.
an adherent who follows closely the teachings, methods, practices, etc., of an earlier master, as in art, music, philosophy, etc.; disciple.
Astrology.
the point opposite the ascendant.
the point of the ecliptic or the sign and degree of the zodiac setting below the western horizon at the time of a birth or of an event.
the cusp of the seventh house.
a person, animal, or plant when described as descended from an individual, race, species, etc
something that derives or is descended from an earlier form
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English descendaunt (adjective), from Old French descendant “going down,” present participle of descendre “to go down”; equivalent to descend + -ant
The word descendant refers to something that has come down. For example, everyone is a descendant, or the end of a line of ancestors, just as modern art is a descendant of past art that contributed to its style and technique. The word descendant comes from the word "descend" which means to move in a downward direction. Note that the word can also be spelled with an "-ent" ending. Philosopher Herbert Spencer wrote, “The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future.” Have you ever wondered what your descendants will know about you? Perhaps you could leave them your peanut butter and banana sandwich recipe.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bruce Young, 80, a descendant of homesteaders, sat on his porch overlooking Stoner Creek near the Territory 1889 site, and shook his head as a mule deer wandered past.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
In the Dutch case, Brand said he was approached by a man who had recently uncovered two horrifying secrets: he was a descendant of Seyffardt, and his family had displayed the looted art for years.
From Barron's ● May 11, 2026
Gussalli Beretta, the 64-year-old 15th-generation descendant of company founder Maestro Bartolomeo Beretta, calls Ruger’s characterizations of his takeover aspirations “fake news.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
Esu Bulus Yerima Pada, a descendant of a long line of traditional rulers who became chief of Maitama-Kubwa in 2001, says the government also promised documents confirming residents' legal ownership of their new land.
From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026
Knowing that they'll soon have another descendant to love.
From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour
Perhaps more significant was the 2018 publication of “Engaging Descendant Communities in the Interpretation of Slavery,” a guide for museums willing to build relationships with descendant communities to interpret more inclusive histories for the public.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 29, 2022
DeGioia said he would “engage key leaders in our Georgetown, Descendant and Jesuit communities and our faculty, board, and student leadership to chart a path forward”.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 15, 2019
Descendant of Thieves: Specializing in shirts and knit tops, the staples designed by Dres Ladro and Matteo Maniatty carry a whiff of their Mediterranean heritage.
From New York Times ● Jul. 7, 2017
Descendant Norma Longoria Rodriguez, Martinez told me, “conducted oral histories with the family, and created her own private archive of the lives of the men.”
From Slate ● May 5, 2016
"How can I change my mind, Descendant of Wizards?" broke out Ishmael.
From The Ghost Kings by Haggard, Henry Rider
Those in the wild today are descendants from a small population, meaning their genetic similarities make them particularly vulnerable to adapting to new pressures, like diseases or climate change.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
What impact could Dorothy and Marshall’s existence as queer direct descendants of the Declaration’s author have on attitudes towards LGBTQ+ Americans in the present and future?
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
The group—Class A shareholders—includes members of the Brown family, descendants of the company’s founder who currently control its voting power.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Millions of years later, the animal's descendants began swimming actively again.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
Centuries later, Periclymenus’s descendants had served in the eastern Roman legions.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
