hereditary
adjective
he·red·i·tary
hə-ˈre-də-ˌter-ē 
1
a
biology
: genetically transmitted or transmittable from parent to offspring
The disease is hereditary.
b
: characteristic of or fostered by one's predecessors
a hereditary feud
2
a
: received or passing by inheritance or required to pass by inheritance or by reason of birth
hereditary wealth
b
: having title (see title entry 1 sense 4a) or possession through inheritance or by reason of birth
hereditary nobility
3
: of a kind established by tradition
hereditary enemies
4
: of or relating to inheritance or heredity
unless he had the hereditary dispositions which he has, he would not behave the way he does—
Arthur Pap
Arthur PapExamples of hereditary in a Sentence
He suffers from a rare hereditary condition.
eye and hair color are hereditary
Recent Examples on the Web
This hereditary disease causes your body to absorb too much iron from your diet.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 24 May 2025
One of the Clarksons likely received the Magna Carta at some point in the early 1800s from William Lowther, the hereditary lord of Appleby manor.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 May 2025
By Jennie Erin Smith His story—part clinical, part familial—forms the core of Valley of Forgetting, Jennie Erin Smith’s book on memory, medicine, and hereditary fate in rural Colombia.
—Marion Renault, The Atlantic, 13 May 2025
Tough love is hereditary for the Toussaints, and while Mishi gives up the extravagances of her home to stay with Bruna, SuSu discovers the pressure of being mentored by Cheyenne.
—Oliver Sava, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hereditary
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 24 May 2025
One of the Clarksons likely received the Magna Carta at some point in the early 1800s from William Lowther, the hereditary lord of Appleby manor.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 May 2025
By Jennie Erin Smith His story—part clinical, part familial—forms the core of Valley of Forgetting, Jennie Erin Smith’s book on memory, medicine, and hereditary fate in rural Colombia.
—Marion Renault, The Atlantic, 13 May 2025
Tough love is hereditary for the Toussaints, and while Mishi gives up the extravagances of her home to stay with Bruna, SuSu discovers the pressure of being mentored by Cheyenne.
—Oliver Sava, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hereditary
Cite this Entry
“Hereditary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hereditary. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hereditary
adjective
he·red·i·tary
hə-ˈred-ə-ˌter-ē
1
: genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring
hereditary traits
2
a
: received or passing by inheritance
hereditary rank
b
: having title or possession through inheritance
hereditary ruler
3
: of or relating to inheritance or heredity
Medical Definition
hereditary
adjective
he·red·i·tary
hə-ˈred-ə-ˌter-ē
1
: genetically transmitted or transmittable from parent to offspring compare acquired sense 1, congenital sense 2, familial
2
: of or relating to inheritance or heredity
Legal Definition
hereditary
adjective
he·red·i·tary
hə-ˈre-də-ˌter-ē
1
: received or passing by inheritance or required to pass by inheritance
hereditary shares
2
: having ownership or possession through inheritance
Etymology
Latin hereditarius, from hereditas inheritance, from hered-, heres heir
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share