posterity
Americannoun
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succeeding or future generations collectively.
Judgment of this age must be left to posterity.
-
all descendants of one person.
His fortune was gradually dissipated by his posterity.
noun
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future or succeeding generations
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all of one's descendants
Etymology
Origin of posterity
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Stanton is a huge and consequential personage in American history, but she has dwindled in the eyes of posterity to become a subordinate of Anthony.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
But praise was poured upon the humble pint's place in the nation's history, cultural life and language, and the government moved to ensure the measurement was preserved for posterity.
From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025
There’s a stirring moment when Mikki frantically draws his memories of Iris and Arco on the wall of a cave for posterity.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025
President Emmanuel Macron inside the Pantheon said Badinter's voice would ring out in posterity.
From Barron's • Oct. 9, 2025
Hamilton also realized that he was being asked to write for posterity as much as the present.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
