posterity

[ po-ster-i-tee ]

noun

1. succeeding or future generations collectively:

   Judgment of this age must be left to posterity.

2. all descendants of one person:

   His fortune was gradually dissipated by his posterity.

posterity

/ pɒˈstɛrɪtɪ /

noun

1. future or succeeding generations
2. all of one's descendants

Word History and Origins

Origin of posterity¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English posterite, from Old French postérité, from Latin posteritāt-, stem of posteritās, noun derivative of posterus “coming after”; posterior, -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of posterity¹

C14: from French postérité, from Latin posteritās future generations, from posterus coming after, from post after

Example Sentences

I get the desire to preserve an ambitious live show for posterity.

From Los Angeles Times

So for you, a star would be for posterity.

From Los Angeles Times

"It would be admirable if the president had allowed posterity to recognise and appreciate his work," an X user posted.

From BBC

Since then, volunteers—also known as “gravers”—have stalwartly photographed and recorded tombstones, mausoleums, crosses, statues, and all other manner of graves for posterity.

From Slate

The beef was that, even though WP Engine amply built off WordPress’ open-source programming to further its own successful business, it wasn’t devoting enough time or resources in turn to helping the WordPress ecosystem maintain and develop itself for posterity.

From Slate