What does heredity mean?
Heredity is the process by which genetic traits and other biological characteristics pass from parents to offspring. It is central to genetics and has long been discussed in biology, medicine, psychology, and philosophy, particularly when examining the relative influence of inherited traits and environmental experience. A trait may be inherited without being inevitable: its expression can also be affected by factors such as nutrition, lifestyle, and other surroundings. The word often carries a scientific or formal tone, but it also appears in general discussion of family resemblance, inherited conditions, and the transmission of traits across generations. Heredity is not usually used for ordinary personal belongings or cultural practices unless the context clearly concerns biological or generational transmission. Its importance lies in explaining continuity between parents and children while recognizing that inherited characteristics interact with the environments in which people live.
nounThe transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring through genetic inheritance. In biology, it refers to the process by which traits pass from one generation to the next.
- The biological transmission of genetic characteristics from parents or other ancestors to offspring.
- The broader principle or study of how qualities, traits, and characteristics pass between generations.
"The study of heredity examines how physical and behavioral traits are passed from parents to their children."
"Heredity can increase a person's risk of developing certain diseases."
"The debate over heredity and environment asks how much of human development is shaped by biological inheritance and how much by life experience."
The plural is grammatically regular but uncommon; writers usually use inherited traits, inheritance, or genetic inheritance instead.
"The study compares the heredities of different populations."
Heredity explains why a child can resemble a parent, but environment determines how those inherited possibilities are expressed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does heredity come from?
Heredity entered English in the early 17th century from Latin haereditas, meaning inheritance or estate, a noun derived from haerus, meaning heir. The same Latin root underlies related forms such as hereditary, heritage, heritable, and inheritance. Over time, the word's meaning broadened from legal inheritance to the biological transmission of characteristics between generations.
Related word forms
How heredity is actually used
Heredity is formal and especially common in biology, genetics, medicine, and historical or philosophical discussion. It is frequently used in expressions contrasting biological inheritance with environmental influence, as in the debate over heredity and environment. The plural is uncommon.
Easily confused with heredity
Heredity is the noun naming the process of passing traits between generations, while hereditary is the adjective describing traits or conditions transmitted in that way.