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hereditary

1 synonyms and 1 antonyms for hereditary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Passed down from parent to child, especially through genes.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

inhereditary

Antonyms

How to use hereditary

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

hereditary disease hereditary title hereditary peer

Etymology

From Latin hērēditārius, from hērēditās ("inheritance"), from hērēs ("heir").

Full origin of hereditary →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hereditary” mean?

The word “hereditary” means passed down from parent to child, especially through genes. In plain terms, inherited — either a trait passed down genetically, or a title/right passed down through a family.

How do you pronounce “hereditary”?

“Hereditary” is pronounced huh-REH-diht-ree (/həˈɹɛdɪˌtɛɹi/ in IPA).

How do you use “hereditary” in a sentence?

Here is “hereditary” used in a sentence: “Certain forms of heart disease can be hereditary.”

What is another word for “hereditary”?

Words with a similar meaning to “hereditary” include inhereditary.

What is the opposite of “hereditary”?

The opposite of “hereditary” — its antonyms — is nonhereditary.

What part of speech is “hereditary”?

“Hereditary” is an adjective.

Where does the word “hereditary” come from?

The word “hereditary” comes from Latin. From Latin hērēditārius, from hērēditās ("inheritance"), from hērēs ("heir").

Is “hereditary” a common word?

“Hereditary” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.