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

hereditarily

hə-ˌre-də-ˈter-ə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• genetic
• genetical
• heritable
• inborn
• inheritable
• inherited

Choose the Right Synonym for hereditary

innate, inborn, inbred, congenital, hereditary mean not acquired after birth.

innate applies to qualities or characteristics that are part of one's inner essential nature.

an innate sense of fair play

inborn suggests a quality or tendency either actually present at birth or so marked and deep-seated as to seem so.

her inborn love of nature

inbred suggests something either acquired from parents by heredity or so deeply rooted and ingrained as to seem acquired in that way.

inbred political loyalties

congenital and hereditary refer to what is acquired before or at birth, the former to things acquired during fetal development and the latter to things transmitted from one's ancestors.

a congenital heart murmur

eye color is hereditary

Examples of hereditary in a Sentence

He suffers from a rare hereditary condition.

eye and hair color are hereditary

Recent Examples on the Web

These types of stories breed an almost hereditary disdain: The wolf is, and can only ever be, an enemy. —Jonathan C. Slaght, The Atlantic, 11 June 2025

Pandora had Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare hereditary syndrome that can increase the risk of several types of cancer. —Janine Henni, People.com, 10 June 2025

Adrenal tumors or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a group of hereditary adrenal gland disorders, can cause these glands to make too many androgens (male hormones), leading to high testosterone.1 5. —Brandi Jones, Health, 6 June 2025

This hereditary disease causes your body to absorb too much iron from your diet. —Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 24 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hereditarie, borrowed from Latin hērēditārius "of inheritance, passed by means of inheritance," from hērēdit- (probably extracted from hērēditāt-, hērēditās "succession to an heir, inheritance," taken as hērēdit- + -āt-, -ās) + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at heredity

Note: See note at heritage.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hereditary

• non-hereditary

Rhymes for hereditary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

Kids 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

hereditarily

-ˌred-ə-ˈter-ə-lē 

adverb

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