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's the nice thing about research results – it might happen in five, 150, 500 years time. This research is there for posterity and I'm confident that smart people will use them in the future."

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"Since Terry never won 'Rear of the Year' I think his posterior preserved for posterity in Colwyn Bay seems right. I'm absolutely behind it."

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Predicting posterity is impossible, but “The Wayfinder” is this kind of work, modern and mythological.

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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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