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
Words Nearby inheritance
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use inheritance in a sentence
The cops say Kakehi gained several hundred million yen in inheritance from the deaths over the years.
What I assume is that we will come to a final peaceful settlement in which we agree on the value of the inheritance.
In Tussle Over Will, Mistress’s Family Takes a Bite Out of NYU | Anthony Haden-Guest | November 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThat is to say, the ancestral genes, the ancestral strain of inheritance, appears again in these little children.
Among boomers who will receive an inheritance, the top 10 percent will receive more than every other decile combined.
In some ways the emerging age of inheritance stems from the success Americans enjoyed over the past half century.
In the time when thou shalt end the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease, distribute thy inheritance.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThe inheritance of the children of sinners shall perish, and with their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousHe acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousAnd he added glory to Aaron, and gave him an inheritance, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase of the earth.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousMy inheritance is become to me as a lion in the wood: it hath cried out against me, therefore have I hated it.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
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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