descendant

Someone related to a person who lived in an earlier generation, such as their grandchild.

• She is a descendant of a famous writer.
• His descendants still live in this village.
• Do you know any descendants of the king?

How to use it: descendant of someone (He is a descendant of the original settlers.)

Similar words: afterbear

Opposites: ancestor

Common phrases: direct descendant, living descendant

An animal or plant that developed from an earlier kind over many generations.

• This bird is a descendant of ancient reptiles.
• Scientists compared these descendants with their early ancestors.
• Are modern roses descendants of wild varieties?

How to use it: descendant of something (This species is a descendant of an ancient fish.)

Common phrases: modern descendant, evolutionary descendant

Something made or developed from an earlier thing.

• This script is a descendant of an older alphabet.
• These programs are descendants of the original software.
• The language has several modern descendants.

How to use it: descendant of something (The new design is a descendant of last year’s model.)

Similar words: derivative

Opposites: precursor

Common phrases: direct descendant, modern descendant

Related to people, animals, or plants that come from a particular earlier family member.

• The records list the ancestor’s descendant families.
• These descendant species share features with their ancient ancestor.
• The trait appeared in several descendant generations.

Common phrases: descendant generations, descendant family, descendant species

Moving downward or following a downward direction.

• The diagram shows a descendant line.
• The ball followed a descendant trajectory toward the floor.
• The observer recorded the balloon’s descendant movement.

Similar words: descending, downward

Opposites: ascending

Common phrases: descendant motion, descendant trajectory, descendant line