hereditary

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Like many chronic afflictions, Mets fandom can be hereditary or acquired.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The two royal officeholders put their concerns to Labour's leader in the Lords, Baroness Smith, when the law that scrapped hereditary peers was in its early stages about a year ago.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

It has been held by hereditary right by the Howard family since 1672 and the current holder is Edward Fitzalan-Howard, the 18th Duke of Norfolk, who inherited the position from his father in June 2002.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

"I don't think we should be using the hereditary privilege we have in the Lords to haggle or negotiate for life peerages," the earl said.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Weismann had proposed a radical alternative: perhaps hereditary information was contained exclusively in sperm and egg cells, with no direct mechanism for an acquired characteristic to be transmitted into sperm or eggs.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee