inheritance
something that is or may be inherited; property passing at the owner's death to the heir or those entitled to succeed; legacy.
the genetic characters transmitted from parent to offspring, taken collectively.
something, as a quality, characteristic, or other immaterial possession, received from progenitors or predecessors as if by succession: an inheritance of family pride.
the act or fact of inheriting by succession, as if by succession, or genetically: to receive property by inheritance.
portion; birthright; heritage: Absolute rule was considered the inheritance of kings.
Obsolete. right of possession; ownership.
Origin of inheritance
1synonym study For inheritance
Other words for inheritance
Other words from inheritance
- pre·in·her·it·ance, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for inheritance
/ (ɪnˈhɛrɪtəns) /
law
hereditary succession to an estate, title, etc
the right of an heir to succeed to property on the death of an ancestor
something that may legally be transmitted to an heir
the act of inheriting
something inherited; heritage
the derivation of characteristics of one generation from an earlier one by heredity
obsolete hereditary rights
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for inheritance
[ ĭn-hĕr′ĭ-təns ]
The process by which traits or characteristics pass from parents to offspring through the genes.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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