English Explanatory Dictionary

heritage

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An inheritance; property that may be inherited.
  2. A tradition; a practice or set of values that is passed down from preceding generations through families or through institutional memory.
  3. A birthright; the status acquired by birth, especially of but not exclusive to the firstborn.
  4. Having a certain background, such as growing up with a second language.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈhɛɹ.ɪ.tɪd͡ʒ/ en-us-heritage.ogg

Word forms

heritage heritages hæritage

Etymology

From Middle English heritage, from Old French eritage, heritage (modern French héritage), ultimately derived (through suffixation) from Latin hērēs. By surface analysis, herit + -age.

Related words

heir heirloom landrace

Derived words

bioheritage dual heritage geoheritage heritage interpretation heritage language heritage railway heritage river heritage speaker heritage tomato intangible cultural heritage Meritage mixed heritage multiheritage nonheritage phytoheritage
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