primogeniture
Primogeniture (noun) means the rule or custom by which the eldest child, historically the eldest son, inherits a parent's title, land or estate ahead of any siblings. Example: “Under primogeniture, the youngest brothers were left to find careers in the army or the church.”
How to Use Primogeniture
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe oldest child inherits everything.
Formal, largely historical and legal; encountered mainly in history, law and discussion of royal succession.
Absolute primogeniture means the eldest child inherits regardless of sex; male-preference primogeniture puts younger brothers ahead of older sisters.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Under _____, the youngest brothers were left to find careers in the army or the church.
Etymology
From medieval Latin primogenitura, from Latin primogenitus meaning 'firstborn', from primus 'first' and genitus 'born'.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for primogeniture
See all rhymes for primogeniture →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between primogeniture and ultimogeniture?
Primogeniture gives the inheritance to the eldest child; ultimogeniture, sometimes called borough English, gives it to the youngest. Ultimogeniture was rarer but suited households where older children had already been set up elsewhere and the youngest stayed to work the land.
What is absolute primogeniture?
Absolute primogeniture means the eldest child inherits whatever their sex, so an elder daughter is not displaced by a younger son. Several European monarchies adopted it in the late twentieth century, and the United Kingdom applied it to those born after October 2011.
Why did primogeniture exist?
It kept estates intact. Splitting land equally between all children divided a holding into unviable fragments within a couple of generations, so societies that depended on large landed estates for military service and revenue concentrated the inheritance in one heir.