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
But more than 25% of Americans believe paying for long-term care will diminish their children's inheritance, a 2023 Nationwide Retirement Institute survey of 1,439 boomers, Gen Xers and millennials showed.
—
Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
If not cash, younger generations looking to buy a home are also planning to dip into their inheritance to fund their down payment, or are simply living with their parents or other family members to save money, Redfin data journalist Dana Anderson wrote.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
In reality, more people are likely to get a windfall from an inheritance, insurance payout or from winning a lawsuit.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Cause all jokes aside, resilience is our inheritance.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 26 Mar. 2024
Tristan Thompson has been granted guardianship of his younger brother, Amari
The NBA star will also manage Amari's inheritance from their mother, Andrea
Andrea died in January 2023 following a heart attack
Tristan Thompson is now the legal guardian of his younger brother, Amari.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024
In King’s Landing, young King Aegon is doubling down on his claim to the Iron Throne, which his half-sister Rhaenyra views as her rightful inheritance from their late father.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024
What's more, enslaved people who tried to fight for inheritances in court were unlikely to win since judges would have almost certainly sided with white relatives, Schermerhorn said.
—Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024
Smart contracts, self-executing agreements on the blockchain, could be used to automate certain aspects of ownership transfer, like property taxes or inheritance processes.
—Nikita Sachdev, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
If not cash, younger generations looking to buy a home are also planning to dip into their inheritance to fund their down payment, or are simply living with their parents or other family members to save money, Redfin data journalist Dana Anderson wrote.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
In reality, more people are likely to get a windfall from an inheritance, insurance payout or from winning a lawsuit.
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Cause all jokes aside, resilience is our inheritance.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 26 Mar. 2024
Tristan Thompson has been granted guardianship of his younger brother, Amari
The NBA star will also manage Amari's inheritance from their mother, Andrea
Andrea died in January 2023 following a heart attack
Tristan Thompson is now the legal guardian of his younger brother, Amari.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024
In King’s Landing, young King Aegon is doubling down on his claim to the Iron Throne, which his half-sister Rhaenyra views as her rightful inheritance from their late father.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024
What's more, enslaved people who tried to fight for inheritances in court were unlikely to win since judges would have almost certainly sided with white relatives, Schermerhorn said.
—Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024
Smart contracts, self-executing agreements on the blockchain, could be used to automate certain aspects of ownership transfer, like property taxes or inheritance processes.
—Nikita Sachdev, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inheritance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near inheritance
Cite this Entry
“Inheritance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inheritance. Accessed 18 Apr. 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?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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