hereditary
adjective/həˈredɪtri/
/həˈredɪteri/
- (of a disease or characteristic) given to a child by its parents before it is born
- a hereditary disease/condition
- Hair loss is often hereditary.
- hereditary physical traits, such as height and eye colour
- a hereditary predisposition to breast cancer
- Epilepsy is hereditary in her family.
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- that is legally given to somebody’s child, when that person dies
- a hereditary title/monarchy
- holding a rank or title that is hereditary
- hereditary peers/rulers
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin hereditarius, from hereditas, from heres, hered- ‘heir’.
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hereditary