adjective
Synonym Usage
See essential.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of inherent
First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin inhaerent- (stem of inhaerēns ), present participle of the verb inhaerēre inhere; see -ent
Compare meaning
How does inherent compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Use the adjective inherent for qualities that are considered permanent or cannot be separated from an essential character. We use the adjective inherent to describe attributes that are part of the essential nature of something. It's different from you being tall, rather than being a description, it has to be a quality and this quality is unchangeable. So, for example, if you have never been able to eat spinach, you have an inherent dislike of it.
Vocabulary lists containing inherent
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 3
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Dear Martin
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Tuesdays with Morrie
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Batra and team state that “our main message to clients has been to embrace the concentration risks inherent in current market conditions.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026
Arte, please, listen to your customers, heed your record, recognize the inherent sadness of a 79-year-old man being chased out of his own home.
From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026
While thankfully everyone was safe after one of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rockets blew up on Thursday night, it’s a reminder of the inherent risks of the space sector.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
It’s “a risk inherent in the guru-celebrity model,” he concluded.
From Salon • May 19, 2026
In addition to the creative songs Mom wrote, she had an inherent sense of style, and she bought me the snazziest outfits.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
