descent

[ dih-sent ]

noun

1. the act, process, or fact of moving from a higher to a lower position.

   Synonyms: drop, fall

2. a downward inclination or slope.

   Synonyms: slant, declivity, grade, decline

3. a passage or stairway leading down.
4. derivation from an ancestor; lineage; extraction.

   Synonyms: origin, parentage, ancestry

5. any passing from higher to lower in degree or state; decline.

   Synonyms: downturn, contraction, decline, plunge, drop, decrease

6. a sudden raid or hostile attack.

   Synonyms: incursion, raid, foray, assault

7. Law. transmission of real property by intestate succession.

descent

/ dɪˈsɛnt /

noun

1. the act of descending
2. a downward slope or inclination
3. a passage, path, or way leading downwards
4. derivation from an ancestor or ancestral group; lineage
5. (in genealogy) a generation in a particular lineage
6. a decline or degeneration
7. a movement or passage in degree or state from higher to lower
8. often foll by on a sudden and overwhelming arrival or attack
9. property law (formerly) the transmission of real property to the heir on an intestacy

Other Words From

• prede·scent noun
• rede·scent noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of descent¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French descente, derivative of descendre “to come down,” modeled on such pairs as vente, vendre; descend

Example Sentences

The authors released a heap of the seeds down an inclined plane while a camera recorded their descent to analyze their speed and the dynamics of their movement.

From Science Daily

Both he and coalition partner Caroline van der Plas, among others, have pointed the finger at young people of Moroccan or North African descent.

From BBC

When he takes the field Saturday against Nebraska, he’ll become the first passer of Polynesian descent to start a game at quarterback for USC.

From Los Angeles Times

Being of Pakistani descent, Bhaghani said he wanted to be a trailblazer for others like him with an interest in football.

From Los Angeles Times

A study by the organization found that people of African descent were disproportionately represented among people deported in recent years, Alemseged said, often because a low-level offense led to their detainment.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• extraction
• lineage
• origin
• parentage

Descent Vs. Dissent Vs. Decent

What’s the difference between descent, dissent, and decent?

Descent is a noun that means the act of moving downward (descending), a downward movement, or downward movement in general. Dissent can be a noun meaning disagreement, as in I voiced my dissent, or a verb meaning to disagree, as in The judge is expected to dissent. Decent is an adjective that means adequate or suitable, as in a decent meal, or good or respectable, as in a decent person.

Descent and dissent are pronounced exactly the same. Perhaps the best way to remember the difference between them is to think about what related words mean and how they’re spelled. Words related to descent involve movement and are spelled with sc, including descend, ascent, ascension, and transcend. Words related to dissent involve agreement or disagreement and end with -sent, including assent and consent.

Despite their similar spelling, descent and decent are pronounced differently. In descent, the emphasis is on the -scent part of the word, with the first part pronounced like dih. In decent, the emphasis is on the first part of the word, which is pronounced like dee.

So how can you remember which one gets the s? Dropping the s is the decent thing to do, but you should pick it back up for your descent. (And if you dissent, pick up two s’s).

Here’s an example of descent, dissent, and decent used correctly in a sentence.

Example: There was dissent among the climbers about when they should make the descent, but they decided to do it while the weather was still decent.

Quiz yourself on descent vs. dissent!

Should descent, dissent, or decent be used in the following sentence?

The plane’s rapid _____ was caused by a faulty engine.