inheritance
noun
in·her·i·tance in-ˈher-ə-tən(t)s 
-ˈhe-rə-
1
: something that is or may be inherited
2
a
: the act of inheriting property
b
: the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring
c
: the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations
3
a
: tradition
b
: a valuable possession that is a common heritage from nature
4
obsolete : possession
Synonyms
- bequest
- birthright
- heritage
- legacy
- patrimony
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She began her own business with the inheritance she got from her grandfather. He left sizable inheritances to his children. The buildings are part of the city's architectural inheritance. the inheritance of an estate the inheritance of a genetic trait
Recent Examples on the Web Who owned Mar-a-Lago before Trump? Charles William Post, a breakfast cereal businessman, left an inheritance of $11 million for his daughter Marjorie Merriweather Post. 
Merdie Nzanga, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2022 In the founding period and for a longer time after, many American patriots were inspired by Whig interpretations of the English constitution as a pre-Norman inheritance of limited government. Samuel Goldman, The Week, 22 Sep. 2021 There’s an inheritance of a whole continent waiting on them. Essence, 24 Aug. 2021 Like most women of her class, she was expected to marry for wealth, preside over a home, entertain socially and give birth to the sons who could guarantee the inheritance of her husband’s lands and titles. Jeanine Basinger, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 When Detective Benoit Blanc arrives at his estate, one thing is for sure—the entire Thrombey family who want the inheritance are all suspect. Chaise Sanders, Country Living, 2 Aug. 2022 In 2020, Felipe renounced his personal inheritance from his father after allegations emerged of financial wrongdoings. Ashifa Kassam, ajc, 26 Apr. 2022 Almost any inheritance entails profiting from the sins of the past. New York Times, 23 Nov. 2021 But Charles Darwin, who had spent his career struggling to domesticate the idea that life had emerged by a natural, gradual process, disavowed any inheritance of revolutionary or Francophile tendencies. Jessica Riskin, The New York Review of Books, 11 Mar. 2021 See More
Merdie Nzanga, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2022 In the founding period and for a longer time after, many American patriots were inspired by Whig interpretations of the English constitution as a pre-Norman inheritance of limited government. Samuel Goldman, The Week, 22 Sep. 2021 There’s an inheritance of a whole continent waiting on them. Essence, 24 Aug. 2021 Like most women of her class, she was expected to marry for wealth, preside over a home, entertain socially and give birth to the sons who could guarantee the inheritance of her husband’s lands and titles. Jeanine Basinger, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 When Detective Benoit Blanc arrives at his estate, one thing is for sure—the entire Thrombey family who want the inheritance are all suspect. Chaise Sanders, Country Living, 2 Aug. 2022 In 2020, Felipe renounced his personal inheritance from his father after allegations emerged of financial wrongdoings. Ashifa Kassam, ajc, 26 Apr. 2022 Almost any inheritance entails profiting from the sins of the past. New York Times, 23 Nov. 2021 But Charles Darwin, who had spent his career struggling to domesticate the idea that life had emerged by a natural, gradual process, disavowed any inheritance of revolutionary or Francophile tendencies. Jessica Riskin, The New York Review of Books, 11 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English enheritaunce, borrowed from Anglo-French enheritance, from enheriter "to give (a person) right of inheritance, inherit" + -ance -ance
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Phrases Containing inheritance
Kids Definition
inheritance
noun
in·her·i·tance in-ˈher-ə-təns
1
: the act of getting by legal right from a person at his or her death or through heredity
2
: something gotten by legal right from a person at his or her death
Medical Definition
inheritance
noun
in·her·i·tance in-ˈher-ət-ən(t)s
1
: the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring
2
: all of the genetic characters or qualities transmitted from parent to offspring compare genotype sense 2, phenotype
Legal Definition
inheritance
noun
in·her·i·tance in-ˈher-ə-təns
1
: the act of inheriting: as
a
: the acquisition of real or personal property under the laws of intestacy or sometimes by will
b
: the succession upon the death of an owner either by will or by operation of law to all the estate, rights, and liabilities of the decedent
2
a
: something that is or may be inherited
b
: something to which one is entitled as heir
increasing the son's potential inheritance under [the] will Lesnick v. Lesnick, 577 So. 2d 856 (1991)
Lesnick v. Lesnick, 577 So. 2d 856 (1991)inheritance
noun
as in legacy
something that is or may be inherited a keen sense of humor was her inheritance from her mother Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- legacy
- bequest
- patrimony
- heritage
- gift
- birthright
- present
- heirloom
- offering
- bestowal