inherited

[ in-her-i-tid ]

adjective

1. received from or as if from one’s predecessors:

   Their wealth is from inherited properties, mostly through the estate of their mother’s parents.

   For the novelist Henry James, history, tradition, precedence, and established forms constituted the inherited wisdom of civilization.

2. received through genetic transmission:

   the family’s inherited trait of straight blond hair;

   kidney problems symptomatic of an inherited disorder.

3. Baseball. (of a base runner) allowed on base by a previous pitcher:

   The unlucky reliever balked, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch, allowed an inherited runner to score, and got only one out.

Other Words From

• half-in·her·it·ed adjective
• non·in·her·it·ed adjective
• qua·si-in·her·it·ed adjective
• un·in·her·it·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inherited¹

First recorded in 1795–1800; inherit ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

The discovery of these genes has been critical to the understanding of inherited cancers as well as developing new treatments.

From BBC

The unit he inherited required an overhaul to deal with thousands more incoming troops.

From Los Angeles Times

Gauke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that this autumn's crisis release of prisoners was unavoidable for the new Labour government because of "the circumstances they inherited".

From BBC

Sir Percival David was born into a wealthy family in Bombay in 1892 and inherited a baronetcy from his father, as well as ownership of the family company.

From BBC

Coming into office in 2017, Trump inherited the longest economic recovery in U.S. history.

From Salon