heirloom

noun

heir·​loom ˈer-ˌlüm 

1

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

The pin she's wearing is a family heirloom.

2

: 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

3

: 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

Examples of heirloom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If someone was caught, and murdered, scraps of their body were circulated as souvenirs and passed down through generations of white families as heirlooms. —Literary Hub, 8 June 2026

That’s where master wood crafter Jon Hartman comes in, creating heirloom-quality furnishing and gifts by upcycling the single-use barrels through his Whiskey Woodcraft program, located in the distillery’s former cooperage. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026

These aren’t as soft as some of the heirloom-quality linens in this list. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 6 June 2026

Although seeing a historic family Bible for sale can be a little disheartening, Bartek enjoys giving these heirlooms new life. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 5 June 2026

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 3

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