1. the status of being a younger son or daughter in a family, especially in relation to inheritance
Usage: formal; legal
2. a system of marks or symbols used in heraldry to distinguish younger branches of a family from the main line
Usage: heraldry

Examples

• The younger prince’s cadency meant he would not inherit the throne.
• In medieval times, cadency determined a person’s position in the family hierarchy.
• The coat of arms showed marks of cadency to indicate the bearer was a second son.
• Heraldic cadency helps identify different branches of noble families.
• The law of cadency affected inheritance rights for centuries.
• Each level of cadency in heraldry has its own distinctive symbol.