patrimony

American  

[pa-truh-moh-nee] / ˈpæ trəˌmoʊ ni /

noun

• patrimonies
  plural

1. an estate inherited from one's father or ancestors.

   Synonyms:

   inheritance

2. any quality, characteristic, etc., that is inherited; heritage.

3. the aggregate of one's property.

4. the estate or endowment of a church, religious house, etc.

---

patrimony British  

/ ˈpætrɪmənɪ /

noun

1. an inheritance from one's father or other ancestor

2. the endowment of a church

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• patrimonial
  adjective
• patrimonially
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• patrimonies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of patrimony

1300–50; Middle English patrimonie < Middle French < Latin patrimōnium. See patri-, -mony

Explanation

Something that's handed down from your father is an example of patrimony, like your name or your antique dining room table. Use the noun patrimony to describe an inheritance, especially if it comes from your father's side of the family through many generations. If your great-great-grandfather built the house you live in, it is your patrimony. The Latin origin of the word patrimony is pater, or "father," plus mōnium, "state or condition."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

patrimony patrimonies

And even when it is offered, most refuse it as they see accepting it as giving recognition and legitimacy to the loss of what they see as their patrimony.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

“The paintings are the patrimony of all Mexicans,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

They will be relentless in protecting their patrimony.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

Michael Barry, a leading specialist in miniature art, said that people being deprived of their cultural patrimony was "the height of injustice".

From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026

Their readers’ reward consists of partaking in—and, if they themselves write, helping to preserve—this rich patrimony.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

India and China placed their cultural patrimonies in lockdown, where they have stayed, with China now aggressively buying back art from abroad.

From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2011

Johnson's double vision makes him a formidable competitor and one of those rare sons who increase exponentially the patrimonies of their fathers.

From Time Magazine Archive

For the patrimonies which the Isaurian had confiscated, the Roman See was thus in another form compensated.

From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VII by Thomas W. Allies

It is strange how we men love another who has shared and spent with us our late patrimonies.

From Arms and the Woman by Harold MacGrath

Men who have hitherto accepted their religious convictions in much the same way as they had succeeded to their patrimonies are compelled by this tide of opposition to think and study for themselves.

From Elizabethan Demonology by Thomas Alfred Spalding