What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
descendence
Example
The royal family's descendence can be traced back to the 12th century. [descendence: noun]
Example
She spent hours researching her family's descendence and discovered some interesting facts. [descendence: noun]
descent
Example
The hikers made a slow descent down the steep mountain trail. [descent: noun]
Example
The river's descent from the mountains to the sea is a popular tourist attraction. [descent: noun]
Example
The company's profits have been on a steady descent for the past year. [descent: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Descent is more commonly used than descendence in everyday language. Descent is a versatile word that can be used in many contexts, while descendence is more specialized and less commonly used.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between descendence and descent?
Both descendence and descent are formal words that are typically used in academic or technical writing rather than in casual conversation.
