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

Less than half of these tech firms, in fact, have formally recorded their leader’s story for posterity.

From TechCrunch

Yeah, for posterity, for his children, for people who were disconnected for whatever reason from their past or their roots.

From Eater

He thought of posterity constantly, and the fear that he had not done enough, that he would disappear before establishing an immortal reputation, tormented him.

From Washington Post

Comics were cheap and disposable, and the business behind them handled like any fly-by-night racket, with little to nothing preserved for posterity.

From Washington Post

The threatened inhabitants on this fragile planet must speak out for those generations yet unborn, for posterity has no lobby with politicians.

From Washington Post

I think posterity will enshrine this body of work among the classics of 21st century jazz.

From The Daily Beast

Obtaining this understanding and posterity is easy, according to the website.

From The Daily Beast

As he once told Brassai, the Gagosian exhibition catalog states, “I want to leave as complete a record as possible for posterity.”

From The Daily Beast

Her face was cast into a plaster mold, preserving her shy smile for posterity.

From The Daily Beast

And our victory in that war decided not just a century, but shaped the security and well-being of all posterity.

From The Daily Beast

The inheritance of the children of sinners shall perish, and with their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach.

From Project Gutenberg

He says that he has sins enough to his account without laying up a reckoning with posterity.

From Project Gutenberg

Because such covenants are made, not merely in the name of the individuals who enter into them, but also in the name of posterity.

From Project Gutenberg

As one with his posterity he was bound by requirements that would have brought them under obligation.

From Project Gutenberg

The magnificent courage and fervor of the Virginians as members of the Confederacy will always be cherished by posterity.

From Project Gutenberg