inheritance

[in-her-i-tuhns]

noun

1. something that is or may be inherited; property passing at the owner's death to the heir or those entitled to succeed; legacy.

   Synonyms: bequest, patrimony

2. the genetic characters transmitted from parent to offspring, taken collectively.

3. something, as a quality, characteristic, or other immaterial possession, received from progenitors or predecessors as if by succession.

   an inheritance of family pride.

4. the act or fact of inheriting by succession, as if by succession, or genetically.

   to receive property by inheritance.

5. portion; birthright; heritage.

   Absolute rule was considered the inheritance of kings.

6. Obsolete.,  right of possession; ownership.

inheritance

/ ɪnˈhɛrɪtəns /

noun

1. law

   1. hereditary succession to an estate, title, etc

   2. the right of an heir to succeed to property on the death of an ancestor

   3. something that may legally be transmitted to an heir

2. the act of inheriting

3. something inherited; heritage

4. the derivation of characteristics of one generation from an earlier one by heredity

5. obsolete,  hereditary rights

inheritance

1. The process by which traits or characteristics pass from parents to offspring through the genes.

Other Word Forms

• preinheritance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inheritance¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English enheritance, from Anglo-French; equivalent to inherit + -ance

Synonym Study

Inheritance, heritage denote something inherited. Inheritance is the common term for property or any possession that comes to an heir: He received the farm as an inheritance from his parents. Heritage indicates something that is bequeathed to a subsequent generation by an individual or by society: our cultural heritage from Greece and Rome.

Example Sentences

My original thought was that I could roll my inheritance into a retirement account of my own and take the 10 years’ distribution to empty it slowly, minimizing taxes.

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Our family had long used the “eldest daughter” inheritance trope to forestall bad feelings.

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A farmer said he hoped the Budget on Wednesday would include help to reduce his costs and called for planned changes to inheritance tax to be scrapped.

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With a knowing smile, she utters: “You have the blood of a Queen Mother in you. Your inheritance awaits you, my child.”

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An estate only truly and legally becomes an actual “inheritance” when you are listed as heirs and the money lands in your bank account.

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Related Words

• bequest 
• estate 
• heritage 
• legacy