offspring
OFSP-rihng
Offspring (noun) means a person's child, or an animal's or plant's young. Example: “The couple raised their offspring in the countryside.”
noun
1
A person's child, or an animal's or plant's young.
"In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual."
— , Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm (2013)
"The couple raised their offspring in the countryside."
"The mother bird fed her offspring several times a day."
"We are the offspring of Italian immigrants."
"The farmer sold the offspring of his best cow at the market."
How to use offspring
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA child or young — the direct product of a parent, whether human, animal, or plant.
Common pairings
produce offspring
her offspring
the offspring of
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Word forms
- Plural
- offsprings
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The couple raised their _____ in the countryside.
Etymology
From Old English ofspring, formed from off- plus spring, in the sense of something that "springs from" a parent.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “offspring” mean?
The word “offspring” means a person's child, or an animal's or plant's young. In plain terms, a child or young — the direct product of a parent, whether human, animal, or plant.
How do you pronounce “offspring”?
“Offspring” is pronounced OFSP-rihng (/ˈɔfspɹɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “offspring” in a sentence?
Here is “offspring” used in a sentence: “The couple raised their offspring in the countryside.”
What is the opposite of “offspring”?
The opposite of “offspring” — its antonyms — are genitor, parent, progenitor, father and mother.
What part of speech is “offspring”?
“Offspring” is a noun.
Where does the word “offspring” come from?
The word “offspring” comes from Old English. From Old English ofspring, formed from off- plus spring, in the sense of something that "springs from" a parent.
Is “offspring” a common word?
“Offspring” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between offspring and children?
Offspring is a broader term that can refer to a person's child or an animal's or plant's young, making it applicable across species. Children specifically refers to human offspring, so offspring is the more general and often more formal or scientific choice.
Is offspring singular or plural?
Offspring has the same form in both singular and plural use, so it can refer to one child or young animal as well as many, such as "a single offspring" or "several offspring." It does not take a separate plural form like "offsprings."
Is offspring a formal word?
Offspring carries a more formal or scientific tone than everyday words like kids or young, and it is frequently used in biology, genetics, and legal contexts. In casual conversation, people are more likely to say children, kids, or babies instead.
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