primogeniture

noun

pri·​mo·​gen·​i·​ture ˌprī-mō-ˈje-nə-ˌchu̇r 

-chər,

-ˌtyu̇r,

-ˌtu̇r

1

: the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents

2

: an exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son

Did you know?

In many civilizations, past and present, the state of being the oldest among siblings is a key component of inheritance law. Primogeniture, which first appeared in English in the early 17th century, derives from the Late Latin prīmogenitūra, which itself comes from prīmogenitus, meaning "firstborn," a combination of the Latin prīmus ("first, earliest") and genitus ("birth"), from the past participle of gignere ("to beget"). For those who are youngest in birth order, a similar word applies—ultimogeniture—but this word is newer (first appearing in English in the late 19th century) and much less common.

Examples of primogeniture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gabriella was born first in 2014, but due to male primogeniture laws, Jacques was named the heir to the Monaco throne. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025

Absolute primogeniture, or the right to rule regardless of gender, was not constitutionally adopted in Norway until 1990, according to the Royal House, meaning that Haakon was always destined to reign one day. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2024

Succession to the Luxembourgish throne has been governed by absolute primogeniture among the descendants of Grand Duke Henri since 2011. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 9 July 2024

Absolute primogeniture — the right to rule regardless of gender — was not constitutionally adopted in Norway until 1990. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 2 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin prīmogenitūra, from prīmogenitus "firstborn" (from Latin prīmus "first, earliest" + -o- -o- —for expected -i- -i- — + genitus, past participle of gignere "to bring into being, beget, give birth to") + Latin -ūra -ure — more at prime entry 1, kin entry 1

Note: The employment of -o- as a linking vowel in a compound rather than normal Latin -i- is peculiar. As noted in the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae, prīmogenitus is a loan-translation of Greek prōtótokos, and it is possible that the compositional -o- was taken over from the Greek word. Alternatively, the compound could be read as prīmōgenitus, with prīmō- being the Latin adverb prīmō "at first, for the first time."

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Legal Definition

primogeniture

noun

pri·​mo·​gen·​i·​ture ˌprī-mō-ˈje-nə-ˌchu̇r 

1

: the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents

2

: exclusive right of inheritance

specifically : a right to take all the real property of an estate belonging under English law to the eldest son or eldest male in the next degree of consanguinity if there is no son of an ancestor to the exclusion of all female and younger male descendants