Issue vs. Offspring — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 8, 2024
Issue often refers to a problem or topic needing discussion, while offspring denotes biological descendants of organisms.
Difference Between Issue and Offspring
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Issue primarily signifies problems, concerns, or matters that require attention or resolution, frequently arising in legal, social, or personal contexts. On the other hand, offspring refers specifically to the biological children or descendants of living organisms, emphasizing the continuation of genetic lineage.
Issue can also mean the outcome or result of a process, such as in publications where a magazine releases a new "issue". Whereas offspring always relates to biological progeny, never deviating into abstract or metaphorical meanings.
In literature and formal discourse, "issue" might be used to denote descendants in a legal context, suggesting heirs or successors. On the other hand, offspring is used universally across scientific and everyday contexts to denote children or young of people and animals, emphasizing a direct biological connection.
The term issue is versatile, applied in various fields from technology (software issues) to health (health issues). In contrast, offspring remains firmly rooted in biological and familial contexts, rarely used metaphorically or in non-living scenarios.
While "issue" can encompass both singular and plural forms without changing its structure, offspring serves as both singular and plural, but often gets modified into "offspring" or "offspring's" for possessive or plural possessive contexts, showing its grammatical flexibility.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A point or matter of discussion, concern, or dispute.
Biological descendants of an organism.
Usage in Context
Used in legal, social, technical, and health-related contexts.
Used in biological and familial discussions.
Grammatical Number
Can be singular or plural without change in form.
Singular and plural form are the same; possessive form is "offspring's".
Metaphorical Use
Frequently used metaphorically across various contexts.
Rarely used metaphorically, mostly in direct biological references.
Example
The latest issue of the magazine discusses global warming.
Tigers typically have two to four offspring in a litter.
Compare with Definitions
Issue
A problem that needs to be discussed or solved.
The main issue in the debate was climate change.
Offspring
A person's children or young.
She brought her offspring to the family reunion.
Issue
The result of a process or action.
The latest issue of the journal features cutting-edge research.
Offspring
The children or young of a particular person or animal.
The lioness is fiercely protective of her offspring.
Issue
Descendants, particularly in a legal document.
His will addressed his property and its division among his issue.
Offspring
Any creatures that originate from a parent.
The oak tree’s offspring can be found scattered around its base.
Issue
The act of supplying or distributing something.
The library had an issue of new books last week.
Offspring
The product or result of something.
This novel is the offspring of years of research.
Issue
A point in question or a matter that is in dispute.
We have an issue with the terms of the contract.
Offspring
Descendants viewed collectively.
The offspring of the dynasty shaped the region’s history.
Issue
A point or matter of discussion, debate, or dispute
What legal and moral issues should we consider?.
Offspring
A person's child or children
The offspring of middle-class parents
Issue
A matter of public concern
Debated economic issues.
Offspring
A child or children of a parent or parents
The offspring of Zeus and Leto.
Issue
A misgiving, objection, or complaint
Had issues with the plan to change the curriculum.
Offspring
The result or product of something
"the glaciers, the offspring of the gentle snow" (John Muir).
Issue
A problem or difficulty.
Offspring
A person's daughter(s) and/or son(s); a person's children.
Issue
A personal problem
Is convinced that her boss has issues.
Offspring
All of a person's descendants, including further generations.
Issue
The act of circulating, distributing, or publishing by a business, government, or organization
Government issue of new bonds.
Offspring
An animal or plant's progeny or young.
Issue
An item or set of items, as stamps or coins, made available at one time by a business, government, or organization.
Offspring
(figuratively) Anything produced; the result of an entity's efforts.
Artists often treasure their works as their immortal offspring.
Issue
A single copy of a periodical
The May issue of the magazine.
Offspring
(computing) A process launched by another process.
Issue
A distinct set of copies of an edition of a book distinguished from others of that edition by variations in the printed matter.
Offspring
The act of production; generation.
Issue
Proceeds from estates or fines.
Offspring
That which is produced; a child or children; a descendant or descendants, however remote from the stock.
To the gods aloneOur future offspring and our wives are known.
Issue
Something proceeding from a specified source
Suspicions that were the issue of a deranged mind.
Offspring
Origin; lineage; family.
Issue
A culminating point leading to a decision
Bring a case to an issue.
Offspring
The immediate descendants of a person;
She was the mother of many offspring
He died without issue
Issue
A final result or conclusion, as a solution to a problem.
Offspring
Something that comes into existence as a result;
Industrialism prepared the way for acceptance of the French Revolution's various socialistic offspring
This skyscraper is the solid materialization of his efforts
Issue
The act or an instance of flowing, passing, or giving out
Where the lake gives issue to its waters.
Offspring
Any immature animal
Issue
A place of egress; an outlet
A lake with no issue to the sea.
Issue
A lesion, wound, or ulcer producing such a discharge.
Issue
Offspring; progeny
Died without issue.
Issue
To flow, go, or come out
Water issuing from a spring.
Voices issuing from a room.
Issue
To proceed from a source; emerge or come forth
Ideas issuing from a discussion. ].
Issue
The action or an instance of flowing or coming out, an outflow, particularly:
Issue
A movement of soldiers towards an enemy, a sortie.
Issue
Someone or something that flows out or comes out, particularly:
Issue
The bodily fluid drained through a natural or artificial issue.
Issue
Offspring: one's natural child or children.
He died lawyered up.
Issue
Progeny: all one's lineal descendants.
Although his own kingdom disappeared, his issue went on to rule a quarter of Europe.
Issue
A race of people considered as the descendants of some common ancestor.
Issue
The produce or income derived from farmland or rental properties.
3. A conveys to B all right to the real property aforementioned for a term of _____ years, with all said real property's attendant issues, rents, and profits.
Issue
Income derived from fines levied by a court or law-enforcement officer; the fines themselves.
Issue
The entrails of a slaughtered animal.
Issue
Any action or deed performed by a person.
Issue
Luck considered as the favor or disfavor of nature, the gods, or God.
Issue
A single edition of a newspaper or other periodical publication.
Yeah, I just got the June issue of Wombatboy.
Issue
The entire set of some item printed and disseminated during a certain period, particularly a single printing of a particular edition of a work when contrasted with other print runs.
The May 1918 issue of US 24-cent stamps became famous when a printer's error inverted its depiction of an airmail plane.
Issue
(finance) Any financial instrument issued by a company.
The company's issues have included securities.
Issue
The loan of a book etc. from a library to a patron; all such loans by a given library during a given period.
Issue
The means or opportunity by which something flows or comes out, particularly:
Issue
A sewer.
Issue
The place where something flows or comes out, an outlet, particularly:
Issue
An exit from a room or building.
Issue
A confluence: the mouth of a river; the outlet of a lake or other body of water.
Issue
The action or an instance of sending something out, particularly:
The issue of the directive from the treasury prompted the central bank's most recent issue of currency.
Issue
A small incision, tear, or artificial ulcer, used to drain fluid and usually held open with a pea or other small object.
Issue
The production or distribution of something for general use.
Congress delegated the issue of US currency to the Federal Reserve in 1913.
Issue
The distribution of something (particularly rations or standardized provisions) to someone or some group.
The uniform was standard prison issue.
Issue
(finance) The action or an instance of a company selling bonds, stock, or other securities.
The company's stock issue diluted his ownership.
Issue
Any question or situation to be resolved, particularly:
Please stand by. We are having technical issues.
Issue
A point of law or fact in dispute or question in a legal action presented for resolution by the court.
The issue before the court is whether participation in a group blog makes the plaintiff a public figure under the relevant statute.
Issue
Anything in dispute, an area of disagreement whose resolution is being debated or decided.
For chrissakes, John, don't make an issue out of it. Just sleep on the floor if you want.
Issue
A dispute between two alternatives, a dilemma.
Issue
A psychological or emotional difficulty, any problem or concern considered as a vague and intractable difficulty.
She has daddy issues, mommy issues, drug issues, money issues, trust issues, printer issues... I'm just sayin', girl's got issues.
Issue
The action or an instance of concluding something, particularly:
Issue
The end of any action or process.
Issue
The end of any period of time.
Issue
The end result of an event or events, any result or outcome, particularly:
Issue
The result of a discussion or negotiation, an agreement.
Issue
The result of an investigation or consideration, a conclusion.
Issue
The action or an instance of feeling some emotion.
Issue
The action or an instance of leaving any state or condition.
Issue
To flow out, to proceed from, to come out or from.
The water issued forth from the spring.
The rents issuing from the land permitted him to live as a man of independent means.
Issue
To rush out, to sally forth.
The men issued from the town and attacked the besiegers.
Issue
To extend into, to open onto.
The road issues into the highway.
Issue
To turn out in a certain way, to result in.
Issue
(archaic) To end up as, to turn out being, to become as a result.
Issue
(legal) To come to a point in fact or law on which the parties join issue.
Issue
To send out; to put into circulation.
The Federal Reserve issues US dollars.
Issue
To deliver for use.
The prison issued new uniforms for the inmates.
Issue
To deliver by authority.
The court issued a writ of mandamus.
Issue
The act of sending out, or causing to go forth; delivery; issuance; as, the issue of an order from a commanding officer; the issue of money from a treasury.
Issue
That which passes, flows, or is sent out; the whole quantity sent forth or emitted at one time; as, an issue of bank notes; the daily issue of a newspaper.
Issue
Progeny; a child or children; offspring. In law, sometimes, in a general sense, all persons descended from a common ancestor; all lineal descendants.
If the kingShould without issue die.
Issue
Produce of the earth, or profits of land, tenements, or other property; as, A conveyed to B all his right for a term of years, with all the issues, rents, and profits.
Issue
An artificial ulcer, usually made in the fleshy part of the arm or leg, to produce the secretion and discharge of pus for the relief of some affected part.
Issue
The final outcome or result; upshot; conclusion; event; hence, contest; test; trial.
Come forth to viewThe issue of the exploit.
While it is hot, I 'll put it to the issue.
Issue
A point in debate or controversy on which the parties take affirmative and negative positions; a presentation of alternatives between which to choose or decide; a point of contention; a matter in controversy.
Issue
In pleading, a single material point of law or fact depending in the suit, which, being affirmed on the one side and denied on the other, is presented for determination. See General issue, under General, and Feigned issue, under Feigned.
As much at issue with the summer dayAs if you brought a candle out of doors.
Issue
To go out; to rush out; to sally forth; as, troops issued from the town, and attacked the besiegers.
Issue
To proceed, as from a source; as, water issues from springs; light issues from the sun.
Issue
To proceed, as progeny; to be derived; to be descended; to spring.
Of thy sons that shall issue from thee.
Issue
To extend; to pass or open; as, the path issues into the highway.
Issue
To be produced as an effect or result; to grow or accrue; to arise; to proceed; as, rents and profits issuing from land, tenements, or a capital stock.
Issue
To close; to end; to terminate; to turn out; as, we know not how the cause will issue.
Issue
In pleading, to come to a point in fact or law, on which the parties join issue.
Issue
To send out; to put into circulation; as, to issue notes from a bank.
Issue
To deliver for use; as, to issue provisions.
Issue
To send out officially; to deliver by authority; as, to issue an order; to issue a writ.
Issue
An important question that is in dispute and must be settled;
The issue could be settled by requiring public education for everyone
Politicians never discuss the real issues
Issue
One of a series published periodically;
She found an old issue of the magazine in her dentist's waitingroom
Issue
The provision of something by issuing it (usually in quantity);
A new issue of stamps
The last issue of penicillin was over a month ago
Issue
Some situation or event that is thought about;
He kept drifting off the topic
He had been thinking about the subject for several years
It is a matter for the police
Issue
Supplies (as food or clothing or ammunition) issued by the government
Issue
The immediate descendants of a person;
She was the mother of many offspring
He died without issue
Issue
A phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon;
The magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise
His decision had depressing consequences for business
He acted very wise after the event
Issue
The income arising from land or other property;
The average return was about 5%
Issue
The becoming visible;
Not a day's difference between the emergence of the andrenas and the opening of the willow catkins
Issue
An opening that permits escape or release;
He blocked the way out
The canyon had only one issue
Issue
The act of issuing printed materials
Issue
Prepare and issue for public distribution or sale;
Publish a magazine or newspaper
Issue
Circulate or distribute or equip with;
Issue a new uniform to the children
Supply blankets for the beds
Issue
Bring out an official document (such as a warrant)
Issue
Come out of;
Water issued from the hole in the wall
The words seemed to come out by themselves
Issue
Make out and issue;
Write out a check
Cut a ticket
Please make the check out to me
Common Curiosities
What does "having an issue" mean in everyday language?
It typically means experiencing a problem or challenge.
Is "offspring" used only for humans?
No, offspring can refer to the young or descendants of any living organisms, including animals and plants.
How is "offspring" used in a scientific context?
In science, offspring are the direct descendants of organisms, studied in genetics and biology.
Can "issue" refer to children?
Yes, in legal contexts, "issue" can refer to a person's descendants or heirs.
What does "issue" mean in a magazine context?
In magazines, "issue" refers to one edition or release of the publication.
What’s the difference between "issue" and "problem"?
"Issue" often implies a broader topic needing discussion, while "problem" is generally a specific obstacle or difficulty.
How do you use "offspring" in a sentence when referring to multiple children?
The term remains the same: "She has three offspring."
How is "offspring" different from "children"?
"Offspring" is a more formal term, often used in scientific or general discussions about descendants.
How can the term "issue" be misleading?
Due to its multiple meanings, "issue" can be unclear without context, as it might refer to problems, publications, or descendants.
How can "issue" imply legality?
In legal terms, "issue" can mean heirs or legal descendants.
Is "issue" considered formal or informal?
"Issue" is versatile and used in both formal and informal contexts.
Can "issue" be plural?
Yes, "issue" can be both singular and plural without changing its form.
Can "offspring" have a metaphorical use?
It’s rarely used metaphorically and typically refers to actual descendants.
What other meanings does "issue" have?
Besides problems and publications, it can mean the result of an action, such as issuing a statement.
Is "offspring" commonly used in everyday conversation?
It’s less common than "children" in casual speech, more often used in formal or biological contexts.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
