progeny

noun

prog·​e·​ny ˈprä-jə-nē How to pronounce progeny (audio)
plural progenies
1
b
: offspring of animals or plants
2
3
: a body of followers, disciples, or successors

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The Lineage of Progeny

Progeny is the progeny of the Latin verb prōgignere, meaning “to beget.” That Latin word is itself an offspring of the prefix prō-, meaning “forth,” and gignere, which can mean “to beget” or “to bring forth.” Gignere has produced a large family of English descendants, including benign, engine, genius, germ, indigenous, and genuine. Gignere even paired up with prō- again to produce a close relative of progeny: the noun progenitor can mean “an ancestor in the direct line,” “a biologically ancestral form,” or “a precursor or originator.”

Examples of progeny in a Sentence

Many Americans are the progeny of immigrants. The small plants are the progeny of an oak tree. Their work is the progeny of many earlier studies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now Professor De Kai approaches our technological progeny not as tools, but as entities shaped by our actions. Robert C. Wolcott, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 Their racecar-driving progeny has been a solid driver in the Cup Series for nine years, but this was only his sixth win. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 26 May 2025 Others, who know the Jackie and Shadow's progeny lore, check in and offer prayers in the hope that the eaglets are healthy enough to survive any adverse weather conditions that may pop up. Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025 When people think of Tiger Woods progeny on the golf course, everyone's minds immediately go to his son, Charlie. Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for progeny

Word History

Etymology

Middle English progenie, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin prōgeniēs, from prōgen-, variant stem of prōgignere "to produce as offspring, bring into being" + -iēs, deverbal and denominal noun suffix — more at progenitor

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of progeny was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Progeny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progeny. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

progeny

noun
prog·​e·​ny ˈpräj-(ə-)-nē How to pronounce progeny (audio)
plural progenies
1
: human descendants : children
2
: offspring of animals or plants

Medical Definition

progeny

noun
prog·​e·​ny ˈpräj-(ə-)nē How to pronounce progeny (audio)
plural progenies
: offspring of animals or plants

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