hereditary
adjective
Arthur Pap
Synonyms
Examples of hereditary in a Sentence
Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
In the 15th century, the befuddled derangement of the English King Henry VI — possibly a hereditary schizophrenia — helped to light the fuse of the Wars of the Roses.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
Apparently poetry is hereditary — just ask Taylor Swift, the heralded lyricist who shares a bloodline with a very famous poet.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 4 Mar. 2024
Tay Sachs is hereditary, caused by inheriting two copies of a mutation - one from each parent - in the gene for Tay Sachs disease.
—Ellen Matloff, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
In the film, Sonal, a teacher, grapples with a hereditary disease, mirroring her mother’s untimely demise.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024
While the lights of Florentine culture dimmed, Lorenzo’s heirs were installed as hereditary dukes of a city whose long republican experiment had finally failed.
—Claudia Roth Pierpont, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
The leukemia is the result of a genetic mutation, said his physician, Dr. Ron Paquette at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and not hereditary.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2024
In 2018, the case was submitted for genetic genealogy testing to identify a match through hereditary DNA analysis, the release says.
—Michael Braithwaite, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hereditary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
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.
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing hereditary
Dictionary Entries Near hereditary
Cite this Entry
“Hereditary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hereditary. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
hereditary
adjective
Medical Definition
hereditary
adjective
Legal Definition
hereditary
adjective
Latin hereditarius, from hereditas inheritance, from hered-, heres heir
More from Merriam-Webster on hereditary
Nglish: Translation of hereditary for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of hereditary for Arabic Speakers
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