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Definition of heredity

heredity

/həˈrɛdɪti/
he · red · i · ty
Adverb:hereditarily
•
Plural:heredities
•
Adjective:hereditary
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heredity Lexical Profile

heredity Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The biological process by which physical or mental characteristics are passed genetically from parents to their offspring.

Example

"Scientists study twins to determine the relative influence of heredity and environment on human behavior."

2

The legal transmission of property, titles, or rights by inheritance from an ancestor to a legal heir.

Example

"Under the ancient feudal system, the right to govern the province was determined strictly by heredity."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for heredity

• Nearby Words

hereafter
hereby
hereditary
heredity
hereford
herein
hereinafter

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-16th century from Middle French hérédité, from Latin hereditas ('heirship, inheritance'), derived from heres ('heir'). Its modern biological sense was popularized in the 19th century by evolutionary theorists such as Herbert Spencer and Charles Darwin.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Heredity. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/heredity
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