B2 adjective Neutral

hereditary

/həˈred.ɪ.tri/

Describes a characteristic, condition, or title that is passed from a parent to a child through genes or legal succession. It is most frequently used in biological contexts regarding health and physical traits, or in political contexts regarding social status and power.

Examples

3 of 5
1

Eye color is a hereditary trait determined by the genes of both parents.

Eye color is a hereditary trait determined by the genes of both parents.

2

The bill proposes to abolish the remaining hereditary seats in the upper house of parliament.

The bill proposes to abolish the remaining hereditary seats in the upper house of parliament.

3

I guess my stubbornness is hereditary; my dad is exactly the same way.

I guess my stubbornness is hereditary; my dad is exactly the same way.

Word Family

Noun
heredity
Adverb
hereditarily
Adjective
hereditary
Related
inheritance
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Memory Tip

Think of the word 'heir'. An heir is someone who receives something from their family. 'Hereditary' describes the things (genes or titles) an heir receives.

Quick Quiz

The doctor asked if there was any history of ___ heart disease in my family.

Correct!

The correct answer is: hereditary

Examples

1

Eye color is a hereditary trait determined by the genes of both parents.

everyday

Eye color is a hereditary trait determined by the genes of both parents.

2

The bill proposes to abolish the remaining hereditary seats in the upper house of parliament.

formal

The bill proposes to abolish the remaining hereditary seats in the upper house of parliament.

3

I guess my stubbornness is hereditary; my dad is exactly the same way.

informal

I guess my stubbornness is hereditary; my dad is exactly the same way.

4

Clinical studies suggest that certain types of breast cancer have a strong hereditary component.

academic

Clinical studies suggest that certain types of breast cancer have a strong hereditary component.

5

The CEO's position was not hereditary, but he groomed his daughter to take over the firm anyway.

business

The CEO's position was not hereditary, but he groomed his daughter to take over the firm anyway.

Word Family

Noun
heredity
Adverb
hereditarily
Adjective
hereditary
Related
inheritance

Common Collocations

hereditary disease hereditary disease
hereditary title hereditary title
hereditary trait hereditary trait
hereditary monarchy hereditary monarchy
hereditary factor hereditary factor

Common Phrases

hereditary succession

hereditary succession

hereditary peer

hereditary peer

hereditary wealth

hereditary wealth

Often Confused With

hereditary vs congenital

Congenital means present from birth but not necessarily genetic, while hereditary specifically implies passing through genes.

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Usage Notes

Use 'hereditary' when discussing medical conditions that run in families or political systems where power is passed down. It is generally more formal than 'inherited'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use the noun 'heredity' when they need the adjective 'hereditary', or they confuse it with 'congenital' when talking about birth defects.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'heir'. An heir is someone who receives something from their family. 'Hereditary' describes the things (genes or titles) an heir receives.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin word 'hereditarius', which comes from 'heres', meaning 'heir'.

Grammar Patterns

used as an attributive adjective (before a noun) not usually used in comparative forms (more hereditary is rare) follows 'to be' in predicative position
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Cultural Context

In the United Kingdom, hereditary peers were individuals whose right to sit in the House of Lords was passed down through their family line.

Quick Quiz

The doctor asked if there was any history of ___ heart disease in my family.

Correct!

The correct answer is: hereditary

Related Words

monocredive

C1

Describing a mindset or system that relies exclusively on a single source of belief, truth, or authority. It is often used to characterize psychological or social structures where alternative perspectives are systematically ignored or rejected.

macrodentity

C1

To define, classify, or characterize an entity or group based on broad, large-scale structural or systemic features rather than individual traits. It involves assigning a collective identity to a subject within a wider sociological or global framework.

interducdom

C1

The state, status, or collective realm of introductory elements or transitional preliminaries. It refers to the transitional period or condition of something that has been recently introduced but is not yet fully established or advanced.

circumtempsion

C1

To strategically bypass or maneuver around a specific deadline or time constraint by exploiting administrative technicalities or scheduling nuances. This verb describes the act of intentionally creating a temporal delay to avoid immediate obligations.

unflexhood

C1

The state or condition of being inflexible, unyielding, or resistant to change in one's mindset, physical form, or behavior. It often characterizes a persistent rigidity that prevents adaptation to new circumstances or perspectives.

prevercy

C1

The state or quality of being prior or taking precedence in order, time, or importance. It refers to a condition where one element must be addressed, considered, or completed before others due to its status or inherent necessity.

addictence

C1

Describing a state of inherent habit-formation or the quality of being compulsively dependent on a substance or activity. It characterizes both the psychological predisposition toward dependency and the property of an external stimulus to trigger such a state.

abfactly

C1

To derive or isolate core factual components from a complex narrative or dataset by stripping away subjective interpretation. This process is used specifically to reach an objective conclusion from qualitative or cluttered information.

transvadtion

C1

To bridge or synthesize distinct theoretical frameworks, data sets, or systems into a singular, functional model. It involves the active process of integrating disparate elements to achieve structural or conceptual unity.

hyperterrful

C1

Describes something that is excessively terrifying or causing an overwhelming sense of dread, often due to its vast scale or intense nature. It is typically used to describe situations or environments that evoke a profound, almost paralyzing fear.

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