Synonyms of hereditary

hereditary

adjective

hə-ˈre-də-ˌter-ē 

as in genetic

genetically passed or capable of being passed from parent to offspring

eye and hair color are hereditary

Synonyms & Similar Words

• genetic
• inherited
• inherent
• inheritable
• genetical
• heritable
• inborn
• congenital
• innate
• inbred
• native
• natural

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonhereditary
• acquired

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hereditary different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of hereditary are congenital, inborn, inbred, and innate. While all these words mean "not acquired after birth," 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

When might inborn be a better fit than hereditary?

While the synonyms inborn and hereditary are close in meaning, 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

When can inbred be used instead of hereditary?

The synonyms inbred and hereditary are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

Where would innate be a reasonable alternative to hereditary?

While in some cases nearly identical to hereditary, innate applies to qualities or characteristics that are part of one's inner essential nature.

an innate sense of fair play

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hereditary

The constitution of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan dictates that the throne is passed down through King Abdullah Ibn Al-Hussein's dynasty in a hereditary line of male heirs. —Janine Henni, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025

Autopsies can catch hereditary illnesses that doctors tend to miss, such as signet-ring-cell carcinomas, and reveal causes of dementia that may have been misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s. —Samuel Ashworth, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2025

Research into rare diseases, genetic counseling, and even standard family medical histories rely on accurate ancestry to map out hereditary conditions, an exercise that would be all but meaningless if the EPP rate were 30%, or even 10%. —Byandrew Curry, science.org, 6 Mar. 2025

Customers could simply send in a saliva sample and receive a report about their family tree, demographics, and even their risk for certain hereditary health conditions. —Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 26 Mar. 2025