hereditary

American  

[huh-red-i-ter-ee] / həˈrɛd ɪˌtɛr i /

adjective

1. passing, or capable of passing, naturally from parent to offspring through the genes.

   Blue eyes are hereditary in our family.

2. of or relating to inheritance or heredity.

   a hereditary title.

3. existing by reason of feeling, opinions, or prejudices held by predecessors.

   a hereditary enemy.

   Synonyms:

   traditional, ancestral

4. Law.

   1. descending by inheritance.

   2. transmitted or transmissible in the line of descent by force of law.

   3. holding title, rights, etc., by inheritance.

      a hereditary proprietor.

5. Mathematics.

   1. (of a collection of sets) signifying that each subset of a set in the collection is itself a set in the collection.

   2. of or relating to a mathematical property, as containing a greatest integer, applicable to every subset of a set that has the property.

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hereditary British  

/ -trɪ, hɪˈrɛdɪtərɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting factors that can be transmitted genetically from one generation to another

2. law

   1. descending or capable of descending to succeeding generations by inheritance

   2. transmitted or transmissible according to established rules of descent

3. derived from one's ancestors; traditional

   hereditary feuds

4. maths logic

   1. (of a set) containing all those elements which have a given relation to any element of the set

   2. (of a property) transferred by the given relation, so that if x has the property P and xRy, then y also has the property P

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hereditary Scientific  

/ hə-rĕd′ĭ-tĕr′ē /

1. Passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring by means of genes.

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hereditary Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for conditions capable of being transmitted from parent to offspring through the genes. The term hereditary is applied to diseases such as hemophilia and characteristics such as the tendency toward baldness that pass from parents to children.

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Related Words

See innate.

Other Word Forms

• hereditarily adverb
• hereditariness noun
• nonhereditarily adverb
• nonhereditariness noun
• nonhereditary adjective
• quasi-hereditary adjective

Etymology

Origin of hereditary

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin hērēditārius “relating to inheritance,” equivalent to hērēdit(ās) “inheritance,” heredity + -ārius -ary

Explanation

Things that are hereditary are inherited — passed down through the DNA of your biological parents. Has anyone ever said "You have your mom's eyes" or "Wow, you look like your grandfather"? They're commenting on hereditary features — things you got from your parents, and their parents, and all the other family genes you carry. Hair color, height, and even parts of your personality tend to be hereditary, or passed down genetically. Not all hereditary things are good: you can also inherit health conditions, crooked teeth, or your grandpa's bald spot.

Example Sentences

Although North Korea has relentlessly suppressed religion and vilified American missionaries, the origins of this hereditary cult are found in a surprising place: Protestant Christianity, and in particular, postbellum American Presbyterianism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Like many chronic afflictions, Mets fandom can be hereditary or acquired.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The BBC understands the Duke of Norfolk accepts the will of Parliament to get rid of hereditary peers but believes it's right the ceremonial roles should continue.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Lord Carrington became a hereditary member of the Lords in 2018, after winning a by-election to replace a retired peer.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

A tsar can give houses, or jewel-encrusted eggs, or hereditary titles or whatever he likes.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• genetic
• inborn
• transmitted