Dictionary
1descendant
adjective de·scen·dant \di-ˈsen-dənt\
Definition of DESCENDANT
1
: moving or directed downward
2
: proceeding from an ancestor or source
See descendant defined for kids Variants of DESCENDANT
de·scen·dant also de·scen·dent \di-ˈsen-dənt\
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of DESCENDANT
Middle English dessendaunte, from Anglo-French descendant, from Latin descendent-, descendens, present participle of descendere
First Known Use: circa 1555
Related to DESCENDANT
Other Biology Terms
2descendant
noun
: someone who is related to a person or group of people who lived in the past
: a plant or animal that is related to a particular plant or animal that lived long ago
: something that developed from another thing that was made or existed earlier
Full Definition of DESCENDANT
1
: one descended from another or from a common stock
2
: one deriving directly from a precursor or prototype
See descendant defined for English-language learners
Variants of DESCENDANT
descendant also descendent
Origin of DESCENDANT
French & Latin; French descendant, from Late Latin descendent-, descendens, from Latin
First Known Use: 1600
Other Genetics Terms
DESCENDANT Defined for Kids
descendant
noun de·scen·dant \di-ˈsen-dənt\
Definition of DESCENDANT for Kids
1
: someone related to a person or group of people who lived at an earlier time
2
: a thing that comes from something that existed at an earlier time
Learn More About DESCENDANT
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: descendentalPrevious Word in the Dictionary: descendancyAll Words Near: descendant
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up descendant? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).