heritable
adjective
her·i·ta·ble
ˈher-ə-tə-bəl 
ˈhe-rə-
1
: capable of being inherited or of passing by inheritance
2
Examples of heritable in a Sentence
heritable characteristics like skin and eye and hair color
Recent Examples on the Web
Galton, who coined the term eugenics, pioneered correlation and regression and used these tools to argue that traits like intelligence and morality were heritable and should be managed through selective breeding.
—
Craig Spencer, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
Genetics play a significant role as well, as research shows that heritable factors account for about 40% to 60% of a person’s risk for developing BPD.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2025
She and American Eagle also have been accused of promoting eugenics, the manipulation of reproduction in the human population to increase heritable characteristics that are more desirable.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2025
Conscientiousness appears to be about 40 to 50 percent heritable, so conscientious parents tend to raise conscientious kids.
—Jasmine Mote, Scientific American, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for heritable
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Craig Spencer, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
Genetics play a significant role as well, as research shows that heritable factors account for about 40% to 60% of a person’s risk for developing BPD.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2025
She and American Eagle also have been accused of promoting eugenics, the manipulation of reproduction in the human population to increase heritable characteristics that are more desirable.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2025
Conscientiousness appears to be about 40 to 50 percent heritable, so conscientious parents tend to raise conscientious kids.
—Jasmine Mote, Scientific American, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for heritable
Cite this Entry
“Heritable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heritable. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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.
W. K. Cavenee et al.Legal Definition
heritable
adjective
her·i·ta·ble
ˈher-ə-tə-bəl
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