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
b
: a valuable possession that is a common heritage from nature
4
obsolete
: possession
Examples of inheritance in a Sentence
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
The prosecution's argument, that the killings took place over the inheritance of José's estate, led to the brothers receiving dual life sentences without the possibility of parole.
—
Shania Russell, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024
James Dyson, the business magnate behind electronics giant Dyson, slammed Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s measures to increase taxes, including on the inheritance of farmland worth above £1 million in value.
—Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 4 Nov. 2024
Mars used the inheritance to raise purebred Hereford cattle and to buy a stockyard.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
His latest is a comedy-drama about family warring over matters of inheritance.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inheritance 
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Shania Russell, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024
James Dyson, the business magnate behind electronics giant Dyson, slammed Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s measures to increase taxes, including on the inheritance of farmland worth above £1 million in value.
—Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 4 Nov. 2024
Mars used the inheritance to raise purebred Hereford cattle and to buy a stockyard.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
His latest is a comedy-drama about family warring over matters of inheritance.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inheritance
Dictionary Entries Near inheritance
Cite this Entry
“Inheritance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inheritance. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inheritance
noun
in·her·i·tance
in-ˈher-ət-ən(t)s
1
: the act of inheriting
2
: something that is or may be inherited
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)Love words? Need even more definitions?
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