offspring

noun

off·spring | \ ˈȯf-ˌspriŋ

plural offspring also offsprings

Definition of offspring

1a : the product of the reproductive processes of an animal or plant : young, progeny The disease can be transmitted from parent to offspring.

b : child a mother of numerous offspring

2a : 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

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Examples of offspring in a Sentence

The disease can be transmitted from parent to offspring. 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

Princess Anne, too, decided not to give her offspring royal titles. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Just Announced the Name of the Royal Baby," 8 May 2019 Then the original recipient gets to retain the future offspring/milk/eggs/etc. from that animal for life. — Courant Community, "Community News For The Wethersfield Edition," 17 Apr. 2018 It was found in the Big Cypress National Preserve with 73 developing eggs inside of its belly, a foreboding sign of the gargantuan offspring set to roam the park. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Researchers Capture the Biggest Snake Ever Found in the Florida Everglades," 8 Apr. 2019 At a recent rehearsal of the pivotal ball scene, where the two offspring of the feuding Capulet and Montague families first set eyes on one another (and clamp lips), director John Langs was refining some complex choreography with the ensemble. — Misha Berson, The Seattle Times, "Here’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ like you’ve never seen it, with the star-crossed lovers bridging the gap between American Sign Language and English," 20 Feb. 2019 Killing an offspring is the last thing that pure fitness-maximizing evolution would promote. — John Hawks, WSJ, "‘The Goodness Paradox’ Review: The Benefits of Good Breeding," 25 Jan. 2019 Before then, raising offspring was done by multi-member groups, rather than a monogamous heterosexual pair—and that is what led to the endurance of humankind. — Amanda Mitchell, Marie Claire, "The "Wonderful Weirdness" of Female Sexuality," 23 Oct. 2018 Don't destroy those covered with tiny white cocoons; these contain the parasitic offspring of the beneficial braconid wasp. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "The Secret to Growing the Most Flavorful Eggplants," 27 July 2018 The old rules held that a new male offspring would have taken precedence over Princess Charlotte in the order of succession. 2. — Maggie Maloney, Town & Country, "Everything We Know About the New Royal Baby," 3 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'offspring.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.