offspring

noun

off·​spring ˈȯf-ˌspriŋ 

plural offspring also offsprings

1

a

: the product of the reproductive processes of a person, animal, or plant : young, progeny

The disease can be transmitted from parent to offspring.

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

2

a

: product, result

… scholarly manuscripts—the labored offsprings of PhDs …

—Donna Martin

… the substitution of the typewriter and its offspring for the author's own hand.

—Jacques Barzun

b

: offshoot sense 1a

… you can hear this Caribbean club music, a hard-edged and party-heavy offspring of reggae …

—Lorraine Ali

Synonyms

• fruit
• get
• issue
• posterity
• progeny
• seed
• spawn

Examples 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

There’s a lot to unpack from this family photo, which prominently features the world’s richest man, standing with the president-elect’s offspring and their partners and their children. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

Such food sharing happens between bats who are related – such as mothers and their offspring – but also unrelated individuals. —Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024

Published on October 24, 2024 By Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen Cabernet Franc is unfortunately overshadowed by its precocious offspring. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2024

These cells, the offspring of B cells, primarily reside in the bone marrow. —Byjon Cohen, science.org, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ofspring, from Old English, from of off + springan to spring

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids 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