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
The offspring would like to extend that time.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2025
This can be explained by the need for the parent to survive long enough to support their offspring.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
At least, that's what scientists had generally thought about hybrids, the offspring of these unions.
—Berly McCoy, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
Brood parasites such as cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, tricking the hosts into caring for their offspring at the expense of their own.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offspring
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Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2025
This can be explained by the need for the parent to survive long enough to support their offspring.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
At least, that's what scientists had generally thought about hybrids, the offspring of these unions.
—Berly McCoy, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
Brood parasites such as cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, tricking the hosts into caring for their offspring at the expense of their own.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offspring
Cite this Entry
“Offspring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offspring. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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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