Hereditary

B2 16+

Pronunciation: /həˈrɛdəˌtɛri/

Definitions of hereditary

noun a hereditary characteristic or trait

Example Sentences

A1 Hereditary traits are passed down from parents to children.

A2 The doctor explained that the disease was hereditary and could be inherited.

B1 Genetics play a role in determining hereditary characteristics.

B2 The study of hereditary patterns has led to significant advancements in medical research.

C1 Understanding the complexities of hereditary diseases requires extensive genetic testing.

C2 Researchers are constantly exploring the intricacies of hereditary inheritance in various species.

adjective relating to or denoting factors that are passed down from one generation to another

Example Sentences

A1 Hereditary traits are passed down from parents to children.

A2 Some diseases can be hereditary, meaning they are passed on through genes.

B1 There is a strong hereditary component to certain physical characteristics, such as eye color.

B2 Researchers are studying the hereditary factors that contribute to intelligence.

C1 The royal family's hereditary line has been unbroken for centuries.

C2 Genetic testing can provide insights into a person's hereditary predispositions to certain health conditions.

Examples of hereditary in a Sentence

formal The disease is known to be hereditary, passing down from generation to generation.

informal They say curly hair is hereditary in their family.

slang I guess his love for sports is hereditary, his whole family is into it.

figurative The talent for music seems to be hereditary in that family, they all play instruments so well.

Grammatical Forms of hereditary

past tense

inherited

plural

hereditaries

comparative

more hereditary

superlative

most hereditary

present tense

inherits

future tense

will inherit

perfect tense

has inherited

continuous tense

is inheriting

singular

hereditary

positive degree

hereditary

infinitive

to inherit

gerund

inheriting

participle

inherited

Origin and Evolution of hereditary

First Known Use: 0015 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'hereditary' originated from the Latin word 'hereditarius' which means 'inheritable'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in the 15th century to refer to something that is passed down from one generation to another through genetic inheritance, the word 'hereditary' has evolved to also encompass the passing down of traits, titles, or possessions within a family lineage.