primogeniture
Americannoun
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the state or fact of being the firstborn of children of the same parents.
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Law. the system of inheritance or succession by the firstborn, specifically the eldest son.
noun
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the state of being a first-born
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law the right of an eldest son to succeed to the estate of his ancestor to the exclusion of all others Compare ultimogeniture
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of primogeniture
First recorded in 1500–20; from Medieval Latin prīmōgenitūra “a first birth,” equivalent to Latin prīmō “at first” + genitūra, equivalent to genit(us) (past participle of gignere “to beget”) + -ūra noun suffix; see kin, -ure
Explanation
Primogeniture is when the oldest son inherits all or more of his parents' stuff than any of his siblings. When a king dies, his eldest typically son inherits the throne by the rules of primogeniture. It may seem vastly unfair, but primogeniture dates back to the Old Testament. Examples of this practice in which the first-born son receives exclusive inheritance rights can be found throughout history and around the world — from the Middle East to Medieval Europe. Today, perhaps the most widely known example of primogeniture is the succession of the British throne, which gives preference to the eldest male child above all others.
Vocabulary lists containing primogeniture
This Week in Words: April 22 - 27, 2018
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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.
The last time the U.K.’s law of succession was altered, to end male primogeniture, was in 2013 and it took nearly two years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
The book’s title is a play on the phrase “heir and spare,” referring to Harry’s diminished status as the younger brother in a monarchy where succession is governed by primogeniture.
From New York Times ● Jan. 5, 2023
Rather, it’s primogeniture, and every major move since—Durant on the Warriors, Chris Paul to the Rockets, etc.—is a direct descendant.
From Slate ● Feb. 1, 2018
It is entirely possible that she would follow "tradition" and defer to him, following the lines of primogeniture.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2017
In Virginia, however, laws abolishing primogeniture and entail had been passed during the Revolution.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
