posterity

American  

[po-ster-i-tee] / pɒˈstɛr ɪ ti /

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.

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posterity British  

/ pɒˈstɛrɪtɪ /

noun

1. future or succeeding generations

2. all of one's descendants

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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

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

The audience was breathless not only with excitement but with phone activity recording the encounter for digital posterity.

From Los Angeles Times

Many of the photographed women look directly at the camera, conscious of their political activity being documented for posterity.

From BBC

"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."

From BBC

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

From The Wall Street Journal