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Definition of posterity

posterity

/pɑːˈstɛr.ə.ti/
pos · ter · i · ty
Plural:posterities
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posterity Lexical Profile

posterity Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

All future generations of people collectively.

Example

"The historical letters were carefully preserved in the national archives for posterity."

2

The descendants or offspring of a specific person, family, or progenitor.

Example

"The ancient monarch hoped that his direct posterity would rule the kingdom for centuries."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for posterity
Antonyms
View all antonyms for posterity

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'posterity' (future generations) with 'prosperity' (wealth and success).

• Rhymes for posterity

• Nearby Words

poster
posterboard
posterior
posterity
postgame
postgrad
postgraduate

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French posterite, from Latin posteritatem ('future time, offspring'), derived from posterus ('coming after, subsequent'), from post ('after').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Posterity. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/posterity
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