heritability

IPA/ˌher.ɪ.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/
IPA/ˌher.ɪ.t̬əˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/

heritability — noun

1. the degree to which a particular physical feature, medical condition, or behavio

1.nounB2
Definition

the degree to which a particular physical feature, medical condition, or behavioural tendency can be passed from parents to children through genetic material rather than being caused by the environment

Example

The heritability of height was tested by comparing growth patterns among identical twins raised apart.

heritability of [physical trait]

Kwame read a study showing that the heritability of musical ability is surprisingly high.

Common collocations
  • heritability of [trait]
  • heritability estimate
  • heritability study
  • heritability research
Synonyms
  • genetic transmission

    more technical; focuses on the process of genes being passed on rather than the likelihood of a trait being inherited

  • inheritance

    broader term that can refer to property or traits; 'heritability' is limited to genetic traits

Grammar Patterns

heritability of [trait/condition]

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms relate to the passing of features from parents to offspring, but they differ in scope. 'Inheritance' is the broadest — it can refer to money, property, or any inherited trait, not just genetic ones. 'Genetic transmission' focuses on the biological mechanism of genes being passed through DNA during reproduction; it is the most technical and impersonal. 'Heritability' is specifically about the degree or likelihood that a genetic trait will appear in a child — it is a statistical and biological concept used mainly in genetics and medicine. For example, scientists study the heritability of intelligence, discuss the inheritance of hair colour, and describe how genetic transmission works at the molecular level.

heritability ↗inheritance ↗genetic transmission

Common collocations

Nouns

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Derived from 'heritable' (meaning 'capable of being inherited'), which came into English from Old French 'heritable', ultimately tracing back to the Latin word 'heres' meaning 'heir'. The suffix '-ity' forms a noun that describes a quality or state.