Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

inherit

/ɪnˈhɛɹɪt/ verb

In Latin: heredito Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about inherit at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Obtain from someone after their death.
I inherited a castle from my French grandparents
Receive from a predecessor.
The new chairman inherited many problems from the previous chair
Receive by genetic transmission.
I inherited my good eyesight from my mother

Origin

From Middle English enheriten, from Old French enheriter, from Late Latin inhereditare (“make heir”). Displaced native Old English ierfan.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word