A country's heritage is all the qualities, traditions, or features of life there that have continued over many years and have been passed on from one generation to another.
The historic building is as much part of our heritage as the paintings.
...the rich heritage of Russian folk music.
Synonyms: inheritance, legacy, birthright, lot More Synonyms of heritage
heritage in British English
(ˈhɛrɪtɪdʒ)
noun
1.
something inherited at birth, such as personal characteristics, status, and possessions
2.
anything that has been transmitted from the past or handed down by tradition
3.
a.
the evidence of the past, such as historical sites, buildings, and the unspoilt natural environment, considered collectively as the inheritance of present-day society
b.
(as modifier; cap. as part of name)
Bannockburn Heritage Centre
4.
something that is reserved for a particular person or group or the outcome of an action, way of life, etc
the sea was their heritage
the heritage of violence
5. law
any property, esp land, that by law has descended or may descend to an heir
6. Bible
a.
the Israelites regarded as belonging inalienably to God
b.
the land of Canaan regarded as God's gift to the Israelites
Word origin
C13: from Old French; see heir
heritage in American English
(ˈhɛrətɪdʒ)
noun
1.
property that is or can be inherited
2.
a.
something handed down from one's ancestors or the past, as a characteristic, a culture, tradition, etc.
b.
the rights, burdens, or status resulting from being born in a certain time or place; birthright
SYNONYMY NOTE: heritage, the most general of these words, applies either to property passed on to an heir,or to a tradition, culture, etc. passed on to a later generation [our heritage of freedom]; inheritance applies to property, a characteristic, etc. passed on to an heir; , patrimony strictly refers to an estate inherited from one's father, but it is also used ofanything passed on from an ancestor; , birthright, in its stricter sense, applies to the property rights of a first-born son
Word origin
ME < OFr < heriter < LL(Ec) hereditare, to inherit < L hereditas: see heredity
Examples of 'heritage' in a sentence
heritage
Luckily, Sybbis had a healthy heritage on both sides, giving no reason to doubt her fertility.
Tepper, Sheri S. A PLAGUE OF ANGELS (2001)
I should not have to cope with my present fears -- and something deeper, darker, my heritage.
Haines, Pamela THE GOLDEN LION (2001)
He even tried to forget the atrocity stories that were so much a part of his heritage, tales of English conquest and cruelties.
Penman, Sharon HERE BE DRAGONS (2001)
Marla had brought him here for the first time on his tenth birthday to impress upon him the importance of his heritage.
Jennifer Fallon HARSHINI (2001)
In other languages
heritage
British English: heritage /ˈhɛrɪtɪdʒ/ NOUN
A country's heritage consists of all the qualities and traditions that have continued over many years, especially when they are considered to be of historical importance.
...a rich heritage of historical monuments.
American English: heritage
Arabic: إرْث
Brazilian Portuguese: herança
Chinese: 遗产
Croatian: baština
Czech: dědictví
Danish: arv
Dutch: erfenis
European Spanish: patrimonio
Finnish: kulttuuriperintö
French: héritage patrimoine
German: Erbe
Greek: κληρονομιά
Italian: retaggio
Japanese: 先祖伝来のもの
Korean: 유산
Norwegian: arv
Polish: dziedzictwo
European Portuguese: herança
Romanian: moștenire
Russian: наследство
Latin American Spanish: patrimonio
Swedish: kulturarv
Thai: มรดก
Turkish: miras
Ukrainian: спадок
Vietnamese: di sản
All related terms of 'heritage'
dual heritage
an upbringing in which one's parents are of different ethnic or religious backgrounds
heritage site
a historical site , a building, or an area of the unspoilt natural environment , considered to be important to a country or area's heritage
heritage centre
a museum that houses exhibits describing the culture and history of a particular place and its inhabitants
English Heritage
an organization, partly funded by government aid , that looks after ancient monuments and historic buildings in England
heritage industry
an industry that manages the historical sites , buildings, and museums in a particular place, with the aim of encouraging tourism
heritage language
a language other than French, English, or an aboriginal language, esp as part of a school or extracurricular programme designed for, but not restricted to, the children of immigrants speaking the language
World Heritage Site
a natural or manmade area or structure which is recognized as being of international importance and therefore deserving special protection