inherent

in·her·ent

adj \in-ˈhir-ənt, -ˈher-\

Definition of INHERENT

: involved in the constitution or essential character of something : belonging by nature or habit : intrinsic <risks inherent in the venture>

— in·her·ent·ly adverb

Examples of INHERENT

1. He has an inherent sense of fair play.
2. <an inherent concept of justice>
3. It is one more proof that our world has lost the kind of exquisite sensibility displayed by John Milton when he came up with his definition of poetry. He first wrote “simple, sensual, and passionate,” but he was bothered by the grossness inherent in “sensual,” and so he invented the word “sensuous.” —Florence King, National Review, 24 Sept. 2007
4. There were those who trusted the innate goodness of humanity, and those who believed in its inherent crookedness. —Terry Eagleton, Harper's, March 2005
5. The problem … is inherent and perennial in any democracy, but it has been more severe in ours during the past quarter-century because of the near universal denigration of government, politics and politicians. —Michael Kinsley, Time, 29 Oct. 2001

Origin of INHERENT

Latin inhaerent-, inhaerens, present participle of inhaerēre (see inhere)

First Known Use: 1581

Related to INHERENT

Synonyms: built-in, constitutional, constitutive, essential, hardwired, immanent, inborn, inbred, indigenous, ingrain, ingrained (also engrained), innate, integral, intrinsic, native, natural, in one's blood

Antonyms: adventitious, extraneous, extrinsic

Related Words: basic, deep-rooted, elemental, fundamental; congenital, hereditary, inherited, inmost, inner, interior; internal; characteristic, distinctive, peculiar; habitual, inveterate; normal, regular, typical

Near Antonyms: alien, foreign; accidental, coincidental, incidental; acquired, adscititious; superficial, surface; exterior, external

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Rhymes with INHERENT

adherent, coherent, sederunt, vicegerent