heritage

[ her-i-tij ]

noun

1. something that is handed down from the past, as a tradition:

   a national heritage of honor, pride, and courage.

2. something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion:

   a heritage of poverty and suffering.

   Synonyms: patrimony, estate

3. something reserved for one:

   the heritage of the righteous.

4. Law.
   1. something that has been or may be inherited by legal descent or succession.
   2. any property, especially land, that devolves by right of inheritance.

adjective

1. noting or relating to a product, place, etc., that evokes a nostalgic sense of tradition or history:

   visitors to a heritage site in the Middle East.

2. noting or relating to an older, traditional breed of animal or plant: Compare heirloom ( def 3 ).

   raising pure-breed heritage hogs.

heritage

/ ˈhɛrɪtɪdʒ /

noun

1. something inherited at birth, such as personal characteristics, status, and possessions
2. anything that has been transmitted from the past or handed down by tradition
3. 1. the evidence of the past, such as historical sites, buildings, and the unspoilt natural environment, considered collectively as the inheritance of present-day society
   2. ( as modifier; cap. as part of name )

      Bannockburn Heritage Centre

4. something that is reserved for a particular person or group or the outcome of an action, way of life, etc

   the heritage of violence

   the sea was their heritage

5. law any property, esp land, that by law has descended or may descend to an heir
6. Bible
   1. the Israelites regarded as belonging inalienably to God
   2. the land of Canaan regarded as God's gift to the Israelites

Word History and Origins

Origin of heritage¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Middle French, from herit(er) “to inherit” + -age -age; heir

Word History and Origins

Origin of heritage¹

C13: from Old French; see heir

Synonym Study

See inheritance.

Example Sentences

Timbuktu was a major centre of Islamic learning between the 13th and 17th Centuries and was added to the Unesco world heritage list in 1988.

From BBC

Two siblings of Nigerian and Grenadian heritage founded Chuku’s as a way to introduce the uninitiated to Nigerian dining, and as a way for members of the diaspora to connect with their culture.

From New York Times

So this new film comes heaped high with a century’s worth of heritage, in the traditions of literature, screen and stage, plus the massive expectations that come with that.

From Los Angeles Times

His company uses AI models to collate detailed metadata and intelligence to create archives of the continent’s diverse music heritage.

From BBC

The 28-year-old made history as the first-ever deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa in August, following a controversy-hit competition which saw one finalist withdraw after being trolled over her Nigerian heritage.

From BBC

Related Words

• ancestry
• culture
• custom
• legacy
• right
• tradition