hereditarily

IPA/hɪˈred.ɪ.tər.əl.i/
IPA/həˌred.əˈter.əl.i/

hereditarily — adverb

1. in a way that is passed from parents to their children — either through genes (f

1.adverbC1
Definition

in a way that is passed from parents to their children — either through genes (for physical traits, abilities, or medical conditions) or as a legal right (for social positions, titles, or property).

Example

Dr. Park said Mei's eye problem was not passed hereditarily, so her baby was safe.

not + passed hereditarily — negation of genetic transmission

In Japan, the royal throne has been passed hereditarily for many centuries.

passed hereditarily — collocation for titles/positions

Common collocations
  • passed hereditarily
  • hereditarily transmitted
  • hereditarily linked
  • hereditarily determined
  • hereditarily predisposed
  • not passed hereditarily
Synonyms
  • genetically

    narrower — only covers biological/medical inheritance, not social positions or titles

  • by inheritance

    more general and less formal; works for both biology and property

  • by birthright

    limited to social positions, titles, or privileges that belong to someone from birth

Antonyms
  • acquired

    opposite in medical contexts — an acquired disease or trait is not inherited from parents but develops during life

  • earned

    opposite in social contexts — a position achieved by personal effort rather than inherited by right of birth

Grammar Patterns

hereditarily + [past participle] (e.g. transmitted, linked, determined)

hereditarily + [adjective] (e.g. predisposed, gifted)

not + passed hereditarily

Usage Note

Cannot be used as an adjective — 'The disease is hereditarily' is incorrect. You need a verb or adjective after it, e.g. 'The disease is hereditarily transmitted.' Most common in formal, medical, or legal writing.

Common Mistakes

The condition is hereditarily.
The condition is hereditarily transmitted.
'Hereditarily' is an adverb and must modify a verb or adjective, not stand alone as a complement.
He hereditarily received the house from his father.
He received the house through hereditary succession.
When referring to the act of receiving (not how something is passed down), use a different construction.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

While all three alternatives describe how something is passed from parent to child, they differ in scope and register. 'Genetically' is restricted to biological/medical contexts (eye colour, disease risk) and is the most technical. 'By inheritance' works for both biology and property (money, land) and fits everyday conversation more naturally — e.g., 'She received the house by inheritance after her aunt passed away.' 'By birthright' is limited to social positions and privileges, often with a formal or even political tone — e.g., 'The prince claimed the throne by birthright.' Use 'hereditarily' when you need a single adverb for formal or academic writing covering either domain.

genetically ↗by inheritanceby birthright

Common collocations

Phrases

  • passed hereditarily
  • hereditarily transmitted
  • hereditarily linked
  • not passed hereditarily

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from Latin 'hereditarius' (relating to an inheritance), which developed from 'hereditas' (inheritance), which in turn comes from 'heres' (heir). The word passed through French 'héréditaire' before entering English as 'hereditary' in the 1400s, and then the adverb form 'hereditarily' appeared around the 1600s as English speakers needed a way to describe how something is passed down by inheritance.