Showing results for "inherited"

• past participle of inherit.
• past tense form of inherit.

inherited

American  

[in-her-i-tid] / ɪnˈhɛr ɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. received from or as if from one’s predecessors.

   Their wealth is from inherited properties, mostly through the estate of their mother’s parents.

   For the novelist Henry James, history, tradition, precedence, and established forms constituted the inherited wisdom of civilization.

2. received through genetic transmission.

   the family’s inherited trait of straight blond hair;

   kidney problems symptomatic of an inherited disorder.

3. Baseball. (of a base runner) allowed on base by a previous pitcher.

   The unlucky reliever balked, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch, allowed an inherited runner to score, and got only one out.

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Other Word Forms

• half-inherited
  adjective
• noninherited
  adjective
• quasi-inherited
  adjective
• uninherited
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of inherited

First recorded in 1795–1800; inherit ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Inherited means "handed down to you by your family." If your inherited traits include your red hair, freckles, and stubbornness, it means older people in your family also have them. Something you receive from your parents, grandparents, or other family members is inherited, whether it's a personality trait or a house in the Catskills. Some things are inherited genetically, like blue eyes, and others are inherited legally, like money or property you receive as an heir when someone dies. The Latin root is inhereditare, "to appoint as heir." The meaning changed in the 14th century to "receive, to be the heir."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inherited

For much of the modern era, the young inherited something better than their parents had, including a larger and stronger economy with a tax base capable of supporting the promises made to earlier generations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Judging Aguirre solely on the end of this World Cup run would be simplistic given what he inherited.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

Some of the most familiar medical problems and ailments arise directly from these inherited constraints.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

Aang’s inherited mission, passed down to him by generations of previous divinities, is to restore and maintain the world’s elemental balance.

From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026

“A mathematician? Then here’s an interesting problem for you, Mr. Bowditch. Five years ago, I inherited some money in Ireland.”

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham