heritage

[ her-i-tij ]

noun

1. something that is handed down from the past, as a tradition:

   a national heritage of honor, pride, and courage.

2. something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion:

   a heritage of poverty and suffering.

   Synonyms: patrimony, estate

3. something reserved for one:

   the heritage of the righteous.

4. Law.
   1. something that has been or may be inherited by legal descent or succession.
   2. any property, especially land, that devolves by right of inheritance.

adjective

1. noting or relating to a product, place, etc., that evokes a nostalgic sense of tradition or history:

   visitors to a heritage site in the Middle East.

2. noting or relating to an older, traditional breed of animal or plant: Compare heirloom ( def 3 ).

   raising pure-breed heritage hogs.

heritage

/ ˈhɛrɪtɪdʒ /

noun

1. something inherited at birth, such as personal characteristics, status, and possessions
2. anything that has been transmitted from the past or handed down by tradition
3. 1. the evidence of the past, such as historical sites, buildings, and the unspoilt natural environment, considered collectively as the inheritance of present-day society
   2. ( as modifier; cap. as part of name )

      Bannockburn Heritage Centre

4. something that is reserved for a particular person or group or the outcome of an action, way of life, etc

   the heritage of violence

   the sea was their heritage

5. law any property, esp land, that by law has descended or may descend to an heir
6. Bible
   1. the Israelites regarded as belonging inalienably to God
   2. the land of Canaan regarded as God's gift to the Israelites

Word History and Origins

Origin of heritage¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Middle French, from herit(er) “to inherit” + -age -age; heir

Word History and Origins

Origin of heritage¹

C13: from Old French; see heir

Synonym Study

See inheritance.

Example Sentences

Rio Tinto Group Chief Executive Officer Jean-Sebastien Jacques will step down amid an investor backlash over the destruction of ancient Aboriginal heritage sites in Australia.

From Fortune

One recent study estimates that only 1% of research on the impacts of climate change on heritage is related to Africa.

From Quartz

The movement has been led by young Kumeyaay women, who say the government has ignored evidence of the cultural heritage sites they’re now building over.

From Voice of San Diego

Minnesota spends around $39 million on the arts and cultural heritage every year.

From Ozy

Jim accidentally pinned a young bicyclist between the bumper of his Chevy C10 and a heritage oak in Palo Alto, California.

From Ozy

However, being of Arab heritage and Muslim, I'd really love to see an Arab or Muslim James Bond.

From The Daily Beast

There are six UNESCO biosphere reserves and nine UNESCO World Heritage sites.

From The Daily Beast

An Australian woman in her late twenties told me she was an “honorary Jew” with no actual Jewish heritage.

From The Daily Beast

A more recent phenomenon in the political universe is politicians of Hispanic heritage who are not fluent in Spanish.

From The Daily Beast

Virtually all the southwestern gangs of Mexican heritage (Surenos or Southsiders) are under their control.

From The Daily Beast

He knew that there was cardiac trouble in his family, but he had never realized before the meaning of his heritage.

From Project Gutenberg

It was only Dutch, a foolish charm, a heritage of barbarity and ignorance, but I was too weary to protest.

From Project Gutenberg

A desire for happiness is our common heritage, he was saying in his richly melodious voice.

From Project Gutenberg

God has given the American people a goodly heritage—the fairest the world has ever seen.

From Project Gutenberg

And if the monumental record of their virtues be a just one, why did they heirloom on posterity this bitter heritage of swearing?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ancestry
• culture
• custom
• legacy
• right
• tradition