offspring
noun
off·spring
ˈȯf-ˌspriŋ 
plural offspring also offsprings
1
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
Anthony Hopkins2
b
: offshoot sense 1a
… you can hear this Caribbean club music, a hard-edged and party-heavy offspring of reggae …—Lorraine Ali
Lorraine AliExamples 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
Curled at the forelegs is a smaller camel’s carcass, likely its offspring.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
That unlikely combo provides a compelling opportunity for DiCaprio to sample a few lines of indigenous dialogue with his character’s offspring, and suggests a unique complication of the traditional cowboys-and-Indians trope through a revisionist lens.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
The highly successful state-run program collects huge bass during spawning season so their offspring can be stocked in public waters across the state.
—Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Female turkeys produce more female offspring under hunting pressure.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for offspring
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Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
That unlikely combo provides a compelling opportunity for DiCaprio to sample a few lines of indigenous dialogue with his character’s offspring, and suggests a unique complication of the traditional cowboys-and-Indians trope through a revisionist lens.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
The highly successful state-run program collects huge bass during spawning season so their offspring can be stocked in public waters across the state.
—Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Female turkeys produce more female offspring under hunting pressure.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for offspring
Cite this Entry
“Offspring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offspring. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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