offshoot

[awf-shoot, of-]

noun

1. a branch or lateral shoot from a main stem, as of a plant.

2. anything conceived of as springing or proceeding from a main stock.

   an offshoot of a discussion.

3. a branch, descendant, or scion of a specific population or family.

offshoot

/ ˈɒfˌʃuːt /

noun

1. a shoot or branch growing from the main stem of a plant

2. something that develops or derives from a principal source or origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of offshoot¹

First recorded in 1665–75; off + shoot ¹

Example Sentences

There have been previous anti-asylum seeker protests in Scotland – one was held in Ayr in 2015, called by the Scottish Defence League, an offshoot of the English Defence League.

From BBC

There is also a population of Druze, whose religion is an offshoot of Shia Islam with its own unique identity and beliefs, in Israel.

From BBC

Sánchez said the attack was perpetrated by the EMC guerrilla group, the largest offshoot of Farc.

From BBC

The Brotherhood’s fingerprints are on jihadist groups as wide-ranging as Al Qaeda and Hamas, yet successive American administrations — Republican and Democratic alike — have failed to designate its various offshoots for what they are: terrorist organizations.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, it seems everything is a “Housewives” offshoot, either spun off directly from the network’s crown jewel or formatted to operate exactly like it.

From Salon

Related Words

• outgrowth 
• spin-off