inheritance

American  

[in-her-i-tuhns] / ɪnˈhɛr ɪ təns /

noun

inheritances plural

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.

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inheritance British  

/ 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

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inheritance Scientific  

/ ĭn-hĕr′ĭ-təns /

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

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Synonym Usage

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 Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preinheritance
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• inheritances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of inheritance

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

Explanation

Any money or property you receive after the death of a friend or relative is an inheritance. Your grandmother might have left you a small inheritance, but she left the bulk of her estate to her Chihuahua, Killer. A title that passes with death is also called an inheritance. If the current monarch of Britain dies, the inheritance passes to the next in line for the throne, first to the oldest son. A trait that is passed from parent to child genetically is also referred to as an inheritance. The inheritance of red hair, for example, might be common in your family.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inheritance inheritances

The windfall that might save them is inheritance from the baby boomers, who started turning 80 this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Since I live in Pennsylvania, I understand that I will owe a 15% inheritance tax, leaving me with approximately $17,000 to invest or save.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

But his art is a worthy interpretation and celebration of the classical inheritance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

It could face "fierce opposition" if that means people who would not have faced inheritance tax will now have their estates taxed, the paper adds.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Through various inquiries Holmes learned of Minnie’s inheritance and of the fact that it consisted largely of a parcel of property in the heart of Fort Worth, Texas.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

It is often their parents who are the driving force behind ring-fencing those inheritances.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

If I leave unequal inheritances, do I risk creating resentment among my nieces and nephews — and, perhaps more importantly, among my siblings?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026

In most inheritances, however, step-up in basis is actually the default, not the exception.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026

Also, giving properties as gifts, rather than as inheritances, robs them of their tax-advantaged step-up in basis.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026

It is grounded in a web of advantages and inheritances, some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky—but all critical to making them who they are.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• bequest
• estate
• heritage
• legacy