heirloom

noun

heir·​loom ˈer-ˌlüm 

1

: a piece of property (such as a deed or charter) that descends to the heir as an inseparable part of an inheritance of real property

2

: something of special value handed down from one generation to another

The pin she's wearing is a family heirloom.

3

: a variety of plant that has originated under cultivation and that has survived for several generations usually due to the efforts of private individuals

heirloom tomatoes

Examples of heirloom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Cubitt-Shand tiara was loaned to Camilla by her grandmother, Sonia Keppel Cubitt, and has become a treasured family heirloom of the queen, per Tatler. —Meredith Kile, People.com, 4 July 2025

For a successful and satisfying harvest, Worley recommends planting a mix of heirloom and hybrid tomato plants. —Kansas City Star, 3 July 2025

Her aunt doesn’t have time to take her sightseeing, her cousin Céline is cool and dismissive, and her grandmother, who runs an antique shop, is distraught when a precious family heirloom—a drawing by Matisse—goes missing. —Caroline Carlson june 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 2025

Currently, bags of lettuce, bag salad mix and microgreens, plus fresh flowers are available and as the season progresses, heirloom and stew tomatoes, arugula, rainbow chard, kale and honey will be available. —Sarah Kyrcz, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ayre lome, heyr lome, from ayre, heyr heir entry 1 + lome "implement" — more at loom entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for heirloom

• assume
• backroom
• ballroom
• barroom
• bathroom
• bedroom
• boardroom
• bridegroom
• classroom
• cloakroom
• consume
• costume

Kids Definition

heirloom

noun

heir·​loom ˈa(ə)r-ˌlüm 

ˈe(ə)r-

: a piece of personal property handed down from generation to generation