progeny

noun prog·e·ny \ ˈprä-jə-nē \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of progeny

plural progenies

1 a : descendants, children

b : offspring of animals or plants

2 : outcome, product

3 : a body of followers, disciples, or successors

See progeny defined for English-language learners

See progeny defined for kids

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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 of progeny from the Web

Though humanity has done nothing to deserve such a precious gift, the powers that be saw fit to bestow upon planet Earth the beautiful progeny of rapper and tax expert Cardi B.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "Cardi B Is Having a Little Girl!," 9 May 2018
In 1985, a clause was added to the constitution barring him and his progeny from seeking the presidency.

— sonia perez d., USA TODAY, "Former Guatemala dictator Rios Montt, 91, dies facing genocide charges," 3 Apr. 2018
Throughout her novel, Heti pays visits to various friends and their progeny.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "Sheila Heti Wrestles with a Big Decision in “Motherhood”," 30 Apr. 2018
Yet the researchers managed to track the emerging identities of thousands of cells and their progeny.

— elizabeth pennisi, Science | AAAS, "How one cell gives rise to an entire body," 26 Apr. 2018
The progeny of The Rock has serious potential: The blood of a box office success machine runs through that baby.

— lauren morgan, EW.com, "The 2018 celebrity baby power list," 23 Apr. 2018
In 1985, a clause was added to the constitution barring him and his progeny from seeking the presidency.

— sonia perez d., USA TODAY, "Former Guatemala dictator Rios Montt, 91, dies facing genocide charges," 3 Apr. 2018
And the genetic testing can even show if the fish is related to a ShareLunker entry or its progeny used in hatchery production.

— shannon tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "ShareLunker bass program expands its range," 10 Jan. 2018
So what are the best ways for aspiring or current parents to sock away cash for their pricey progenies?

— trae bodge, Woman's Day, "The 8 Best Ways to Save Money for Your Child's Future," 14 Apr. 2018

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

The Lineage of progeny

Progeny is the progeny of the Latin verb progignere, meaning "to beget." That Latin word is itself an offspring of the prefix pro-, meaning "forth," and gignere, which can mean "to beget" or "to bring forth." Gignere has produced a large family of English descendants, including benign (meaning "mild" or "harmless"), congenital (meaning "inherent"), engine, genius, germ, indigenous, ingenuous, and malign. Gignere even paired up with pro- again to produce a close relative of progeny: the noun progenitor, which can mean "an ancestor in the direct line," "a biologically ancestral form," or "a precursor or originator."

Origin and Etymology of progeny

Middle English progenie, from Anglo-French, from Latin progenies, from progignere

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

progeny Synonyms

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

PROGENY Defined for English Language Learners

progeny

noun

Definition of progeny for English Language Learners

: a person who comes from a particular parent or family : the child or descendant of someone
: the young of an animal or plant
: something that is the product of something else