heritable

adjective

her·​i·​ta·​ble ˈher-ə-tə-bəl 

ˈhe-rə-

1

: capable of being inherited or of passing by inheritance

2

: hereditary

Synonyms of heritable

• hereditary
• genetic
• inherited
• inheritable
• inherent

Examples of heritable in a Sentence

heritable characteristics like skin and eye and hair color

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, many people have rejected the evidence that autism is a highly heritable condition, it’s primarily caused by genetics. —Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026

Then, Guilarte traveled to Medellín, Colombia, to meet with Francisco Lopera, the pioneering Alzheimer’s researcher who uncovered a heritable form of the disease that existed in his home region. —Brianna Abbott, STAT, 7 Apr. 2026

Science, of course, struggles to prove whether that’s predestined in their genes, though some studies suggest that some tendency toward hoarding—put another way, collecting to excess—is heritable. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026

Genotoxicity is when a substance or chemical is destructive to genetic information, causing DNA or chromosomal damage that can lead to mutations, cancer, or heritable defects. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, from heriter "to inherit, make an heir" + -able -able — more at heritage

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for heritable

• inheritable
• veritable

Kids Definition

heritable

adjective

her·​i·​ta·​ble ˈher-ət-ə-bəl 

: capable of being inherited : hereditary

heritable differences in structure

Medical Definition

heritable

adjective

her·​i·​ta·​ble ˈher-ət-ə-bəl 

: hereditary

one of several heritable childhood cancers

—W. K. Cavenee et al.

Legal Definition

heritable

adjective

her·​i·​ta·​ble ˈher-ə-tə-bəl 

: inheritable