inherited
Americanadjective
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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.
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received through genetic transmission.
the family’s inherited trait of straight blond hair;
kidney problems symptomatic of an inherited disorder.
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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.
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing inherited
Genetics - Middle School
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Genetics - High School
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STAAR Biology: Biological Evolution and Classification
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
No matter the situation that Riley inherited, the Trojans should have what it takes, by Year 5, to compete with Oregon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
He later told broadcasters he has "inherited the situation and we need a resolution".
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
His worries included the team he assembled to buy the Orioles and the players he inherited on the field.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Genetic testing showed that his MAL gene was normal, supporting the conclusion that his antibody was acquired rather than caused by the rare inherited MAL deficiency.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
“The Archers inherited the house and land from some distant cousins.”
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
