noun
Uncommon
descendant
dih-SEHN-duhnt
Descendant (noun) means a person related to someone who lived in an earlier generation, such as a child, grandchild, or later relative. Example: “She is a direct descendant of one of the town's founders.”
noun
1
A person related to someone who lived in an earlier generation, such as a child, grandchild, or later relative.
"She is a direct descendant of one of the town's founders."
2
Something that develops from, or is a later version of, an earlier thing.
"Modern smartphones are descendants of much bulkier early mobile phones."
How to use descendant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or something) that comes after and traces back to an earlier ancestor or origin.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
direct descendant
living descendants
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Word forms
- Plural
- descendants
Fill the gap
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She is a direct _____ of one of the town's founders.
Etymology
From Middle French descendant, present participle of descendre, "to descend."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for descendant
See all rhymes for descendant →Frequently asked questions
What does “descendant” mean?
The word “descendant” means a person related to someone who lived in an earlier generation, such as a child, grandchild, or later relative. In plain terms, someone (or something) that comes after and traces back to an earlier ancestor or origin.
How do you pronounce “descendant”?
“Descendant” is pronounced dih-SEHN-duhnt (/dɪˈsɛndənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “descendant” in a sentence?
Here is “descendant” used in a sentence: “She is a direct descendant of one of the town's founders.”
What is another word for “descendant”?
Words with a similar meaning to “descendant” include offspring, scion and and see Thesaurus:child & relative.
What is the opposite of “descendant”?
The opposite of “descendant” — its antonyms — are ascendant, ascendent, ascending, montant and ancestor.
What part of speech is “descendant”?
“Descendant” is a noun.
Where does the word “descendant” come from?
The word “descendant” comes from Middle French. From Middle French descendant, present participle of descendre, "to descend.".
Is “descendant” a common word?
“Descendant” is an uncommon word in modern English.
