patrimony

noun

pat·​ri·​mo·​ny ˈpa-trə-ˌmō-nē How to pronounce patrimony (audio)
1
a
: an estate inherited from one's father or ancestor
there were always children, and the patrimony was divided every timeD. H. Lawrence
b
: anything derived from one's father or ancestors : heritage
These historic landmarks are an important part of our cultural patrimony.
2
: an estate or endowment belonging by ancient right to a church
canon law … aims at conserving the patrimony of the dioceseT. J. Reese
patrimonial adjective

Examples of patrimony in a Sentence

These historic landmarks are an important part of our cultural patrimony. her patrimony was the family's newspaper business
Recent Examples on the Web How had these criminals shown such disregard for what Germans considered a cornerstone of the national patrimony? Jesse Hyde, Town & Country, 16 Aug. 2023 The collections are considered French national patrimony, just like the art in the Louvre, Lalis says. Madeleine Schwartz, The New York Review of Books, 27 July 2023 Antiquities dealers vied for these and other objects of cultural patrimony to offer for sale in galleries and auctions. AZCentral.com, 5 June 2023 Recorded music is arguably America’s great artistic patrimony, our supreme gift to world culture. Hallel Yadin, Longreads, 24 Mar. 2022 That fierce dedication to human knowledge, that determination to keep cultural patrimony alive for future generations, has characterized every place he’s worked across the world. Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2021 So, is naming new species and dutifully returning a nation’s patrimony the end goal of this science adventure? Paul Sereno, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2023 The 1990 federal law mandates that museums receiving federal money must return human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony to their descendants or original community. Riley Rogerson, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Apr. 2023 This is our patrimony. Bruce Bartlett, The New Republic, 31 Aug. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patrimony.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English patrimoine, patrimonie, from Anglo-French patremoine, from Latin patrimonium, from patr-, pater father

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of patrimony was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near patrimony

Cite this Entry

“Patrimony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patrimony. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

patrimony

noun
pat·​ri·​mo·​ny ˈpa-trə-ˌmō-nē How to pronounce patrimony (audio)
plural patrimonies
1
: an estate inherited from one's father or ancestors
2
: something passed down from one's father or ancestors : heritage
patrimonial adjective

Legal Definition

patrimony

noun
pat·​ri·​mo·​ny ˈpa-trə-ˌmō-nē How to pronounce patrimony (audio)
plural patrimonies
1
: an estate inherited from one's father or ancestor
to deprive her and her coheirs of their patrimonyWells Fargo Bank v. Kincaid, 260 Cal. App. 2d 120 (1968)
2
: an estate or endowment belonging to a church
the property of a dissolved parish shall pass to the patrimony of the diocese
3
in the civil law of Louisiana : the net assets of a person : the sum of a person's assets and liabilities
reimbursement shall be made from the patrimony of the spouse who owes reimbursementLouisiana Civil Code
Etymology

Middle French patrimonie, from Latin patrimonium, from patr- pater father

More from Merriam-Webster on patrimony

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