Reading Theme:

Language:

Font Size:

📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Inheritance: Definition, Examples, and Common Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：money or property inherited (inheritance)

inheritance 🔊

/ɪnˈhɛrɪtəns/

Money or things like a house that you get from a family member after they die.

Inheritance concept: young adult with keys and house

money or property inherited 🔊

➕

/ˈmʌni ɔːr ˈprɑːpərti ɪnˈhɛrɪtɪd/

Assets, such as cash, real estate, or possessions, received from a deceased family member.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'hereditare' (to inherit), from 'heres' (heir). In- (into) + herit (heir) + -ance (noun suffix).

💡 Mnemonic

In + her + it + ance: In heritance, she inherits wealth from her family.

📖 Example

After his grandfather passed away, he used part of his inheritance to start his own small coffee shop, fulfilling a lifelong dream. 🔊 After his grandfather passed away, he used part of his inheritance to start his own small coffee shop, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

🔗 Collocations

inherit a fortune – To receive a large amount of money or assets from someone who died

claim an inheritance – To formally request the assets left by a deceased person

inheritance tax – A tax imposed on the property or money received from a deceased person

🔄 Synonyms

legacy (n.) – Something left or handed down by a predecessor, especially money or property

bequest (n.) – A specific gift of property or money left in a will

heritage (n.) – Property that is or may be inherited; an inheritance

🚫 Antonyms

disinheritance (n.) – The act of preventing someone from inheriting property

forfeiture (n.) – The loss of property or rights as a penalty

acquisition (n.) – Something gained or obtained, especially through one's own effort (as opposed to inheritance)

🌱 Derivatives

inherit (v.) – To receive property or a title from someone after their death

inheritor (n.) – A person who inherits something

inheritable (adj.) – Capable of being inherited

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'hereditas', meaning 'inheritance, condition of being an heir'. In English law, it refers to property passed down. Culturally, inheritance often appears in wills and family disputes, a key concept in estate planning.

Meaning 2：genetic trait from parents (inheritance)

inheritance 🔊

/ɪnˈhɛrɪtəns/

Physical traits, like eye color or height, that you get from your parents when you're born.

Inheritance genetics: family with similar blue eyes

genetic trait from parents 🔊

➕

/dʒəˈnɛtɪk treɪt frɒm ˈpɛrənts/

Physical or biological characteristics passed from parents to offspring through genes.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Looking at the family photo album, it was clear that her bright blue eyes were a beautiful inheritance from her mother. 🔊 Looking at the family photo album, it was clear that her bright blue eyes were a beautiful inheritance from her mother.

🔗 Collocations

genetic inheritance – The genetic material passed from parents to offspring

inherited trait – A characteristic that is passed down genetically

maternal inheritance – Traits inherited through the mother's DNA

🔄 Synonyms

heredity (n.) – The passing of genetic characteristics from parents to offspring

lineage (n.) – The line of descent from an ancestor; ancestry

ancestry (n.) – One's family or ethnic background

🚫 Antonyms

acquired trait (n.) – A characteristic developed during life due to environment or behavior, not inherited

mutation (n.) – A change in DNA that is not inherited from parents but occurs spontaneously

learned behavior (n.) – Behavior that is taught or experienced, not genetically passed down

🌱 Derivatives

inherit (v.) – To receive genetic characteristics from a parent

heritable (adj.) – Capable of being genetically inherited

inherited (adj.) – Received genetically from parents