Everyday · Body & health · Politics & society
Hereditary: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Hereditary adjective. Passed down from parents to children, through the genes or by inheritance.
How to say it
hih-RED-ih-tree/hɪˈrɛdɪt(ə)ri/ · American /həˈrɛdəˌtɛri/
4 syllables, stressed on the second (RED).
Hereditary in a sentence
Freckles and red hair are hereditary in our family.
The title is hereditary, so it will pass to her eldest son.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- inherited
- genetic
- inborn
Opposite:
- acquired
Where hereditary comes from
From Latin hereditarius, from heres, an heir.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The title is _____, so it will pass to her eldest son.
- eidetic
- hereditary
- lissom
Show the answer
hereditary: The title is hereditary, so it will pass to her eldest son.