acquired character

American  

noun

Genetics.

1. a noninheritable character that results from certain environmental influences.

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Etymology

Origin of acquired character

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The stadium isn’t old enough to feel outdated but is old enough to have acquired character.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2024

Deneuve, the darling of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg 32 years ago, has aged gracefully; her face has acquired character, a kind of pinched authority.

From Time Magazine Archive

The further question whether such an acquired character can be transmitted we need not raise again.

From Anthropology by Marett, R. R. (Robert Ranulph)

To prove that an inherited character is an acquired character is quite as good evidence as to show that an acquired character is inherited.

From Hormones and Heredity by Cunningham, J. T.

Disease is nine times out of ten an acquired character; hence, instead of the probabilities being that it would be inherited, the balance of evidence to date points in exactly the opposite direction.

From Preventable Diseases by Hutchinson, Woods