descendant

1 of 2

adjective

de·​scen·​dant di-ˈsen-dənt 

variants or less commonly descendent

1

: moving or directed downward

listed in descendant order

2

: proceeding from an ancestor or source

descendant

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly descendent

1

: one originating or coming from an ancestral stock or source : one descended from another

descendants of King David

a descendant of an ancient grass

2

: one deriving directly from a precursor or prototype

Italian and other descendants of Latin

Synonyms of descendant

Adjective

• bowing
• nodding
• bowed
• weeping
• descending
• falling

Examples of descendant in a Sentence

Adjective

the descendant branches of a weeping willow

Noun

One of the famous inventor's descendants is also an inventor.

Many people in this area are descendants of German immigrants.

Recent evidence supports the theory that birds are the modern descendants of dinosaurs.

The Italian language is one of Latin's descendants.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

While this engine was originally designed for the 80-Series, some modifications were needed to make its modern-day marine descendant work. — Stephen Edelstein, The Drive, 31 Oct. 2026

Their decor taste has been passed down through the generations, descendant by descendant. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

Noun

Palestinian citizens of Israel, descendants of those who remained as the state of Israel was established in 1948 (when a majority of the prewar population was forcibly expelled or fled during the war) now make up about 20% of the population. — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026

Last year’s winner Maido, for example, was a Peruvian restaurant run by Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura, who is a descendant of Japanese immigrants to Peru and uses Japanese cooking techniques. — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English dessendaunte, from Anglo-French descendant, from Latin descendent-, descendens, present participle of descendere — see descend

Noun

French & Latin; French descendant, from Late Latin descendent-, descendens, from Latin

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for descendant

• appendant
• ascendant
• attendant
• defendant
• dependant
• dependent
• descendent
• intendant
• resplendent
• transcendent
• codefendant
• independent

Kids Definition

descendant

1 of 2 adjective

de·​scend·​ant

variants also descendent

di-ˈsen-dənt

1

: moving or directed downward

2

: proceeding from an ancestor or source

descendant

2 of 2 noun

variants also descendent

1

: one descended from another or from a common stock

2

: one coming directly from an earlier and usually similar type or individual

Legal Definition

descendant

noun

de·​scen·​dant

variants also descendent

di-ˈsen-dənt

: a blood relative of a later generation