Definition of scion
1 : a detached living portion of a plant (such as a bud or shoot) joined to a stock in grafting and usually supplying solely aerial parts to a graft
2a : descendant, child; especially : a descendant of a wealthy, aristocratic, or influential familyb : heir 1 scion of a railroad empire
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Examples of scion in a Sentence
He's a scion of a powerful family.
Recent Examples of scion from the Web
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Ms. Trump wed Jared Kushner, a scion of a wealthy real estate family, on Oct. 25, 2009, in front of 500 guests, including Rupert Murdoch and Barbara Walters, who shared a 13-layer cake more than five feet tall.
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But the scion of the Kennedy clan remains shy about the exact size of his own fortune.
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In another example of Jared's reported ability to hold a grudge, staffers at the Observer have spoken about how Jared ordered a hit piece on fellow real estate scion Richard Mack after their business relationship soured.
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Hamza bin Laden, scion of the Sept. 11, 2001, mastermind, says in a thin baritone that eerily echoes his father.
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In a divisive era, Kennedy continues as a touchstone despite being a scion of a family of liberal Democrats who have populated American politics for nearly three generations.
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As the shopping center marks its 50th anniversary, the retail scion shares tips for growing sales and nabbing exclusives from luxury brands.
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William Randolph Hearst III, scion of one of America's great newspaper families and heir to its fortune, grandson and namesake of the mogul who built Hearst Castle and inspired Citizen Kane and influenced the character of American media for decades.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scion'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Scion derives from the Middle English sioun and Old French cion and is related to the Old English cīth and the Old High German kīdi (meaning "sprout" or "shoot"). When it first sprouted in English in the 14th century, scion meant "a shoot or twig." That sense withered in horticultural contexts, but the word branched out, adding the grafting-related meaning we know today. A figurative sense also blossomed referring to one's descendants, with particular reference to those who are descendants of notable families.
Origin and Etymology of scion
Middle English sioun, from Old French cion, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English cīth sprout, shoot, Old High German kīdi
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Botany Terms
SCION Defined for English Language Learners
scion
playDefinition of scion for English Language Learners
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: a person who was born into a rich, famous, or important family
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botany : a piece of a plant that is attached to part of another plant
Learn More about scion
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See words that rhyme with scion Britannica English: Translation of scion for Arabic speakers
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