heritability

noun

her·​i·​ta·​bil·​i·​ty ˌher-ə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌhe-rə-

1

: the quality or state of being heritable

2

: the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait (such as height) that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors in contrast to environmental ones

Examples of heritability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Access to the human genome has now revealed that about 80 percent of the odds of being autistic are rooted in heritability. —Caren Zucker, The Atlantic, 6 July 2025

Donald Trump is certainly not a heritability denier. —Erik Baker, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025

More recent studies have identified a range of genes associated with the development of autism, which have further reinforced the role of heritability in its onset. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

So, even if a child has a high genetic propensity for reading ability, without the environmental element, that 80% heritability figure for verbal skills is moot. —Dalton Conley, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

herit(able) + -ability

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for heritability

• acceptability
• accessibility
• adaptability
• admissibility
• advisability
• affordability
• allowability
• amenability
• amiability
• appealability
• applicability
• availability

Medical Definition

heritability

noun

her·​i·​ta·​bil·​i·​ty ˌher-ət-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

plural heritabilities

1

: the quality or state of being heritable

2

: the proportion of observed variation in a particular trait (as intelligence) that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors in contrast to environmental ones