offspring

noun

off·​spring ˈȯf-ˌspriŋ 

plural offspring also offsprings

1

a

: the product of the reproductive processes of a person, animal, or plant : young, progeny

The disease can be transmitted from parent to offspring.

b

: the immediate descendant of a person or animal : an individual born of a parent

gave birth to a single offspring

"… He was becoming irascible as well, impatient—with me especially, because I was his only offspring [=child]. …"

—Anthony Hopkins

2

a

: product, result

… scholarly manuscripts—the labored offsprings of PhDs …

—Donna Martin

… the substitution of the typewriter and its offspring for the author's own hand.

—Jacques Barzun

b

: offshoot sense 1a

… you can hear this Caribbean club music, a hard-edged and party-heavy offspring of reggae …

—Lorraine Ali

Synonyms

• fruit
• get
• issue
• posterity
• progeny
• seed
• spawn

Examples of offspring in a Sentence

The show is about two couples and the adventures of their rebellious offspring.

The colt is the offspring of two racing champions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Similar to the offspring of influencer parents who over-share about their children’s lives on social media, reality TV children also have to go about their daily lives, expecting to being recorded. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 4 June 2024

Most female bats produce just one offspring per year over their life spans, which can range from 10 to more than 30 years. —Tanya Dewey, Discover Magazine, 1 June 2024

Microscopic animals called rotifers, for example, require less than a millionth of a calorie to make one offspring. —Carl Zimmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2024

In various sequels, prequels, remakes, and spin-offs, the Antichrist child Damien Thorn has grown up and passed on his demonic legacy, but the story always circles back to focus on the unexpected dangers of raising Satan’s offspring. —Josh Bell, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ofspring, from Old English, from of off + springan to spring

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

offspring

noun

off·​spring ˈȯf-ˌspriŋ 

plural offspring also offsprings

: the young of a person, animal, or plant

Medical Definition

offspring

noun

off·​spring ˈȯf-ˌspriŋ 

plural offspring also offsprings

: the progeny of an animal or plant : young