inheritance
noun
-ˈhe-rə-\
Definition of inheritance
1a : the act of inheriting property
b : the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring
c : the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations
2 : something that is or may be inherited
3a : tradition
b : a valuable possession that is a common heritage from nature
4 obsolete : possession
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Synonyms for inheritance
Synonyms
bequest, birthright, heritage, legacy, patrimony
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Examples of inheritance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Seniors living on borrowed time and money while bankers drain their children’s inheritance makes for a potent image of decline. — Gerard Gayou, WSJ, "A Trade Deficit Isn’t A Mortgage," 15 Nov. 2018 The president’s parents, Fred and Mary Trump, transferred well over $1 billion in wealth to their children, which could have produced a tax bill of at least $550 million under the 55 percent tax rate then imposed on gifts and inheritances. — Recode Staff, Recode, "Recode Daily: A NYT financial investigation punctures Trump’s ‘self-made’ image," 3 Oct. 2018 The president’s parents, Fred and Mary Trump, transferred well over $1 billion in wealth to their children, which could have produced a tax bill of at least $550 million under the 55 percent tax rate then imposed on gifts and inheritances. — Susanne Craig, The Seattle Times, "Trump engaged in suspect tax schemes as he reaped riches from father," 2 Oct. 2018 Each member is worth a real fortune, and millions upon millions of British pounds are passed down through each generation from inheritance. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Why Prince Harry Inherited More Money Than Prince William When Their Great-Grandmother Died," 9 Aug. 2018 Despite never meeting Princess Diana, Meghan Markle will receive this valuable inheritance. — Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, "Why Princess Diana reportedly refused to wear the Chanel logo after her divorce," 18 May 2018 Like the squirrels, the food stashes can also be a valuable inheritance for later family members that come along. — Brian Gordon Green, National Geographic, "Why a Squirrel Stashed 50 Pounds of Pine Cones in a Car," 9 June 2018 That exception applies if your husband's parental rights were terminated by a court and that court eliminated the children's inheritance rights. — Ronald Lipman, Houston Chronicle, "Husband dies with no will, leaving wife with inheritance questions," 8 June 2018 In the case of Hatijah Molla Salli, the 67-year-old woman locked in a property dispute with relatives of her deceased husband, the Greek Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that only a mufti could resolve a case relating to Muslim inheritance rights. — Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times, "Greece Scraps Compulsory Shariah for Muslim Minority," 10 Jan. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inheritance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for inheritance
inheritance
nounFinancial Definition of inheritance
What It Is
An inheritance includes those assets of an estate that are bequeathed, in whole or in part, to specific heirs.
How It Works
The assets that comprise an estate are customarily transferred to individuals specified by name or relationship (e.g. "Howard Jones, III or "grandchild") in the will of the deceased. In the absence of a will, estate assets are transferred according to laws that protect the assets of the deceased (generally passing them to descendants in a specific order). Once transferred, an inheritance is heavily taxed.
For example, Jim's estate is worth $10,000. His will specifies that his son and daughter each receive $5000. Following Jim's death, the son and daughter each receive $5000. This is their inheritance.
Why It Matters
An inheritance represents the material legacy an individual leaves behind after his de
ath. In addition to the family dynamics involved in the transfer of an inheritance, there are significant tax implications for the inheritors depending on their circumstances and on the value of assets received.
Source: Investing Answers
inheritance
noun
English Language Learners Definition of inheritance
: money, property, etc., that is received from someone when that person dies
: something from the past that is still important or valuable
: the act of inheriting something
See the full definition for inheritance in the English Language Learners Dictionary
inheritance
noun
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Kids Definition of inheritance
1 : the act of getting by legal right from a person at his or her death or through heredity
2 : something gotten by legal right from a person at his or her death
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inheritance
noun
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Medical Definition of inheritance
1 : the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring
2 : all of the genetic characters or qualities transmitted from parent to offspring — compare genotype sense 2, phenotype
inheritance
noun
\
Legal Definition of inheritance
1 : the act of inheriting: as
a : the acquisition of real or personal property under the laws of intestacy or sometimes by will
b : the succession upon the death of an owner either by will or by operation of law to all the estate, rights, and liabilities of the decedent
2a : something that is or may be inherited
b : something to which one is entitled as heir increasing the son's potential inheritance under [the] will — Lesnick v. Lesnick, 577 So. 2d 856 (1991)
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