heritability

noun her·i·ta·bil·i·ty \ ˌher-ə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē , ˌhe-rə- \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of heritability

1 : the quality or state of being heritable

2 : the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait (such as height) that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors in contrast to environmental ones

Recent Examples of heritability from the Web

The researchers then overlaid those trees with information on each individual’s health conditions, gleaned from billing codes and lab tests, and used the combined data to estimate the heritability of about 500 traits and diseases.

— jocelyn kaiser, Science | AAAS, "Family trees hidden in medical records could predict your disease risk," 17 May 2018
The idea that intelligence is highly malleable also jars with research on its heritability.

— The Economist, "How and why to search for young Einsteins," 22 Mar. 2018
But according to senior author and Harvard epidemiologist Karestan Koenen, those findings only inferred heritability.

— lacy schley, Discover Magazine, "Genetic Roots of PTSD," 1 Feb. 2018
Psychopathy heritability is probably between 50-70 percent.

— lynn johnson, National Geographic, "How Fear Makes You Do Good Or Evil," 3 Jan. 2018
The results suggest while use of antidepressants may increase a child's risk of psychiatric disease, heritability could also play a major role, according to study authors.

— elizabeth narins, Cosmopolitan, "17 Things You Need to Know About Taking Antidepressants During Pregnancy," 11 Sep. 2017
To date no heritability (degree to which characteristics are transmitted from parents to offspring) has been demonstrated for any of these diseases.

— adrian tordiffe, Smithsonian, "How to Help Cheetahs Live Longer in Captivity," 24 July 2017
The UW-Madison survey examined four categories based on purpose (medical therapy or physical enhancement) and heritability (the ability to pass effects onto future generations).

— jordan c. axelson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "UW-Madison course covers the promise and pitfalls of genomics," 18 Aug. 2017
To date no heritability (degree to which characteristics are transmitted from parents to offspring) has been demonstrated for any of these diseases.

— adrian tordiffe, Smithsonian, "Why Cheetahs Hate Captivity," 24 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heritability.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of heritability

herit(able) + -ability

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1832

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

heritability

noun her·i·ta·bil·i·ty \ ˌher-ət-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē \

medical Definition of heritability

plural heritabilities

1 : the quality or state of being heritable

2 : the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait (as intelligence) that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors in contrast to environmental ones