offspring

Pronunciation: /ˈɔfspɹɪŋ/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the immediate descendants of a person
  2. noun something that comes into existence as a result
  3. noun any immature animal

Etymology

From Middle English ofspring, from Old English ofspring (“offspring, descendants, posterity”), equivalent to off- + spring. Compare Icelandic afspringur (“offspring”). More at off, spring.

In classic literature

Synonyms

progeny, issue

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
relative
Narrower (hyponyms)
grandchild, successor, child, bastard, firstborn, baby

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