hereditary meaning and definition

HEREDITARY adjective

Definition of hereditary (adjective)

1. occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
   • "an inherited disease"; "familial traits"; "genetically transmitted features"
   • synonyms: familial, genetic, inherited, transmissible, transmitted
2. inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent
   • "ancestral home"; "ancestral lore"; "hereditary monarchy"; "patrimonial estate"; "transmissible tradition"
   • synonyms: ancestral, patrimonial, transmissible