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inheritance

[ in-her-i-tuhns ]

/ ɪnˈhɛr ɪ təns /

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See synonyms for inheritance on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

something, as a quality, characteristic, or other immaterial possession, received from progenitors or predecessors as if by succession: an inheritance of family pride.

the act or fact of inheriting by succession, as if by succession, or genetically: to receive property by inheritance.

portion; birthright; heritage: Absolute rule was considered the inheritance of kings.

Obsolete. right of possession; ownership.

OTHER WORDS FOR inheritance

1 patrimony; bequest.

See synonyms for inheritance on Thesaurus.com

VIDEO FOR INHERITANCE

What Is The Difference Between "Heritage" And "Inheritance"?

While inheritance and heritage may seem similar, and the definitions do have some overlap, there is a distinct difference.

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QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of inheritance

1375–1425; Middle English enheritance, from Anglo-French. See inherit, -ance

synonym study for inheritance

1. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM inheritance

pre·in·her·it·ance, noun

Words nearby inheritance

inherency, inherent, inherently, inherit, inheritable, inheritance, inheritance tax, inherited, inheritor, inheritrix, inhesion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use inheritance in a sentence

Our friendship helped me grasp my inheritance—as an Armenian, as an American, as a human—and to begin the journey of processing it on my own terms.
How Biking Across America Formed an Unlikely Friendship|Raffi Joe Wartanian|October 8, 2020|Outside Online
The preference for sons among land-owning caste groups in the north is supported by local people’s disapproval of inheritance laws that acknowledge the rights of males and females equally.
Three Women: Stories Of Indian Trafficked Brides|LGBTQ-Editor|October 5, 2020|No Straight News
Zanders helped build a case that the skewed inheritance in these yeast was a real effect, not just fluctuations in the data.
This year’s SN 10 scientists aim to solve some of science’s biggest challenges|Science News Staff|September 30, 2020|Science News
LGBTQ individuals are able to serve in the military, are protected by anti-discrimination laws and have adoption and same-sex inheritance rights.
Israel lawmakers move to ban conversion therapy|Kaela Roeder|August 12, 2020|Washington Blade

On average, for adults born in the 1980s, the researchers estimate inheritances will make up 14% of their overall lifetime income, up from 8% for those born in in the 1960s.
UK millennials will inherit way more of their wealth than the generations before them|Amanda Shendruk|July 31, 2020|Quartz
The cops say Kakehi gained several hundred million yen in inheritance from the deaths over the years.
Beware of Japan’s “Black Widows”|Jake Adelstein|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What I assume is that we will come to a final peaceful settlement in which we agree on the value of the inheritance.
In Tussle Over Will, Mistress’s Family Takes a Bite Out of NYU|Anthony Haden-Guest|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That is to say, the ancestral genes, the ancestral strain of inheritance, appears again in these little children.
Joseph Campbell on the Roots of Halloween|Joseph Campbell|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Among boomers who will receive an inheritance, the top 10 percent will receive more than every other decile combined.
Trustafarians Want to Tell You How to Live|Joel Kotkin|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In some ways the emerging age of inheritance stems from the success Americans enjoyed over the past half century.
Trustafarians Want to Tell You How to Live|Joel Kotkin|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the time when thou shalt end the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease, distribute thy inheritance.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
The inheritance of the children of sinners shall perish, and with their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
And he added glory to Aaron, and gave him an inheritance, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase of the earth.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
My inheritance is become to me as a lion in the wood: it hath cried out against me, therefore have I hated it.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various

British Dictionary definitions for inheritance

inheritance

/ (ɪnˈhɛrɪtəns) /

noun

law

hereditary succession to an estate, title, etc
the right of an heir to succeed to property on the death of an ancestor
something that may legally be transmitted to an heir

the act of inheriting

something inherited; heritage

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

obsolete hereditary rights

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for inheritance

inheritance

[ ĭn-hĕr′ĭ-təns ]

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

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.