descendant

A descendant is a person or organism that is derived from an ancestor through one or more generations. The term denotes a relationship of descent and is used to contrast with an ancestor, the source from which the descendant has inherited lineage or traits.

In biology, descendants are members of a lineage that can be traced back to a common ancestor. Descent is a central concept in evolutionary theory, describing how traits and species change over time through successive generations. Descendants may be individuals within a population, entire lineages within a species, or even extinct and extant taxa identified in phylogenetic trees.

In genealogy and law, descendants include all people who derive from a particular progenitor. This encompasses children, grandchildren, and further generations. Genealogical charts map the descendants of individuals or families, often to establish inheritance rights or family connections. The term issue has historically been used in legal contexts to denote descendants for purposes of inheritance and succession.

Etymology: descendant comes from Latin descendere, meaning to go down, and entered English through medieval and early modern forms via Old French and other routes. The word emphasizes the continuation of a line through offspring and subsequent generations.

See also: ancestor, lineage, pedigree, genealogy, inheritance.