heirloom

noun

heir·​loom ˈer-ˌlüm How to pronounce heirloom (audio)
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 Leia has become a family heirloom, and not just for my family. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 Rancho Gordo beans, the king of heirloom bean purveyors, are cloaked in a sweet butternut squash sauce. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 The Rolex watch, a family heirloom, was not missing but in the possession of Mosqueda’s family since before the trial, according to court documents. Ed Lavandera, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024 Appraiser Chris Kennedy told the owner that her family heirloom could auction for between $400,000 and $600,000, and even retail for $1 million when Calder is trendy. Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2024 The brand's vaults, on their face, look like an heirloom passed down from some distant Victorian-era relative, with their ornate detailing on 14k gold. Erika Veurink, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2024 Founded in 2011 by Al Laws, the distillery uses only high-quality corn and heirloom wheat, barley, and rye grown by two Colorado farms to make all its whiskeys. Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Non-stretch rigid denim and an old-school button fly contribute to the authentic appeal—these definitely have an heirloom quality. Paula Lee, Glamour, 9 Feb. 2024 Was that because of – or in spite of – the fact that half of NFL teams are mom-and-pop shops passed down as heirlooms? USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heirloom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of heirloom was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near heirloom

Cite this Entry

“Heirloom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heirloom. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

heirloom

noun
heir·​loom ˈa(ə)r-ˌlüm How to pronounce heirloom (audio)
ˈe(ə)r-
: a piece of personal property handed down from generation to generation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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