posterity

C2
US /pɑːˈstɛrəti/ UK /pɒˈstɛɹɪti/
noun Freq #21420

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    all of the offspring of a given progenitor

    we must secure the benefits of freedom for ourselves and our posterity

  2. 2
    noun

    All the future generations, especially the descendants of a specific person.

    The original family who had begun to build a palace to rival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway, so that the actual structure which had come down to posterity retained the secret magic of a promise rather than the overpowering splendour of a great architectural achievement.

  3. 3
    noun

    all future generations

  4. 4
    noun

    Future audiences, future times, future recognition.

Etymology

Late 14th century, from Middle French posterité, from Latin posteritas, from posterus (“following, coming after”), from post (“after”) (English post-).

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · all of the offspring of a... descendants
Word family
Related forms post-

Send feedback

Optional — only if you'd like a reply.