heritage

noun

her·​i·​tage ˈher-ə-tij 

ˈhe-rə-

1

: property that descends to an heir

2

a

: something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor : legacy, inheritance

a rich heritage of folklore

The battlefields are part of our heritage and should be preserved.

especially : the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation

proud of her Chinese heritage

b

: an established or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior

the party's heritage of secularism

3

: something possessed as a result of one's natural situation or birth : birthright

The heritage of natural freedom was long since cast away …

—V. L. Parrington

Synonyms of heritage

• tradition
• rule
• values

Examples of heritage in a Sentence

hospitality is a cherished Southern heritage

this farm is my heritage from my father, as it was for him from his father

Recent Examples on the Web

The production is aiming for a full theatrical run alongside distribution on international streaming services, with hopes of introducing the city’s artistic heritage to global audiences. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

Chief Financial Officer Pedro De Faria said the money would come from impact fees and would be used for the design, development and installation of permanent museum and exhibit space dedicated to preserving Hialeah’s history, culture and heritage. — Veronica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

Looking ahead and in response to the ever-changing global luxury industry, the school has continued its investment and development of the city’s creative and manufacturing heritage. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

The city's tailors and textile artists have shaped global fashion, and its craft heritage has deep roots stretching back to the 12th century, when artisans and merchants founded guilds to protect their skills and commercial interests. — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English heritage, eritage, borrowed from Anglo-French, from heriter "to inherit, make an heir" (going back to Late Latin hērēditāre "to leave as an inheritance, inherit, make an heir," from Latin hērēd-, hērēs heir entry 1 + -itāre, verb suffix) + -age -age

Note: The Latin verb suffix -itāre normally has repetitive or frequentative value (cf. hesitate, meditate, palpitate), not factitive or causative value, so in this instance it may be of distinct origin. A possible model is the adjective hērēditārius (see hereditary), in the formation of which a stem hērēdit- appears to have been extracted from the noun hērēditāt-, hērēditās "succession to an heir, inheritance," by construing the suffix as -āt-, -ās (or, alternatively, *hērēditātārius was shortened by haplology to hērēditārius).

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

heritage

noun

her·​i·​tage ˈher-ət-ij 

1

: property that is handed down to an heir

2

: something acquired from the past

a rich heritage of folklore