disinherit

American  

[dis-in-her-it] / ˌdɪs ɪnˈhɛr ɪt /

verb (used with object)

1. Law. to exclude from inheritance (an heir or a next of kin).

2. to deprive of a heritage, country, right, privilege, etc..

   the disinherited peoples of the earth.

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disinherit British  

/ ˌdɪsɪnˈhɛrɪt /

verb

1. law to deprive (an heir or next of kin) of inheritance or right to inherit

2. to deprive of a right or heritage

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Other Word Forms

• disinheritance
  noun
• undisinherited
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of disinherit

First recorded in 1525–35; dis- ¹ + inherit

Explanation

When you disinherit someone, you decide not to leave that person anything in your will. Your eccentric grandfather might threaten to disinherit you because of your dirty fingernails. You need to have written a will — a document that lists where you want your money and property to go after your death — in order to disinherit someone. When your wealthy relative actually removes your name from her will, she officially disinherits you. The word inherit is at the heart of disinherit, with its old-fashioned meaning, "make someone an heir." When you add the Latin prefix dis, "not," you take away the inheritance altogether.

Example Sentences

Disinherit the Wind A present-day neurobiologist challenges Darwin’s theory of evolution in Matt Chait’s courtroom drama.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2017

Disinherit the Wind A neurobiologist loses his professorship for mixing science and spirituality in Matt Chait's new drama.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2015

A Cunning Bagage, a faith thou art, and a wise one too; and to show thee thou hast not chose amiss, I'll this moment Disinherit my Son, and Settle my whole Estate upon thee.

From The Busie Body by Byrd, Jess

To Disinherit him, The very Thought, nay, Word it self’s a Crime.

From Anti-Achitophel (1682) Three Verse Replies to Absalom and Achitophel by John Dryden by Jones, Harold Whitmore

Disinherit, dis-in-her′it, v.t. to cut off from hereditary rights: to deprive of an inheritance.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various