What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sons
Example
He has two sons and a daughter. [sons: noun]
Example
The king had many sons but only one could inherit the throne. [sons: noun]
Example
He was like a son to his mentor, who taught him everything he knew. [son: simile]
descendant
Example
She is a descendant of the famous writer, Jane Austen. [descendant: noun]
Example
The royal family can trace their descendants back to the 12th century. [descendants: plural noun]
Example
The indigenous people are the descendants of the original inhabitants of this land. [descendants: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Descendant is less commonly used than sons in everyday language. Sons is a common word that is used frequently in family contexts, while descendant is more commonly used in historical or genealogical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sons and descendant?
Descendant is generally more formal than sons. It is often used in academic or historical writing, while sons is used in both formal and informal contexts.
