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patrimony

noun
pat·​ri·​mo·​ny | \ ˈpa-trə-ˌmō-nē How to pronounce patrimony (audio) \

Definition of patrimony

1a : an estate inherited from one's father or ancestor there were always children, and the patrimony was divided every time— D. H. Lawrence
b : anything derived from one's father or ancestors : heritage These historic landmarks are an important part of our cultural patrimony.
2 : an estate or endowment belonging by ancient right to a church canon law … aims at conserving the patrimony of the diocese— T. J. Reese
Other Words from patrimony Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about patrimony

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Other Words from patrimony

patrimonial \ ˌpa-​trə-​ˈmō-​nē-​əl How to pronounce patrimonial (audio) \ adjective

Examples of patrimony in a Sentence

These historic landmarks are an important part of our cultural patrimony. her patrimony was the family's newspaper business

Recent Examples on the Web

 By Geoffrey Parker Yale, 737 pages, $35 As Mr. Parker shows, Charles’s life (1500-58) encompassed the new currents of the Renaissance and the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation, as well the social patrimony of the late Middle Ages. — William Anthony Hay, WSJ, "‘Emperor’ Review: A Sovereign on the Move," 21 June 2019 Recorded music is arguably America’s great artistic patrimony, our supreme gift to world culture. — New York Times, "The Day the Music Burned," 11 June 2019 Artists famous for activism around masters, like Prince, have construed the issue strictly as a labor-versus-management struggle, a matter of individual artists’ rights, not as a question of collective cultural patrimony. — New York Times, "The Day the Music Burned," 11 June 2019 But when the youthful Republic had gotten over its tantrums and recognized that its artistic patrimony was worth saving. — Bruce Dale, National Geographic, "Adored, neglected, and restored: A 1968 Nat Geo feature explored Notre Dame," 17 Apr. 2019 Sabine Schmidtke of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J., the portal aims to preserve, study and make available online the rich patrimony of Zaydi texts. — Christian C. Sahner, WSJ, "Yemen’s Threatened Cultural Heritage," 25 Dec. 2018 Thus, while war ravages the country, a digital salvage operation of Yemen’s patrimony is well under way. — Christian C. Sahner, WSJ, "Yemen’s Threatened Cultural Heritage," 25 Dec. 2018 This patrimony has fallen under grave threat as a result of the civil war. — Christian C. Sahner, WSJ, "Yemen’s Threatened Cultural Heritage," 25 Dec. 2018 So in October, lawmakers passed another bill declaring tejo part of the national patrimony, noting that it was invented by local Muisca Indians long before the Spanish conquest. — John Otis, WSJ, "Colombia Wants to Boost Its National Sport. That Might Mean Less Beer.," 4 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'patrimony.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of patrimony

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for patrimony

Middle English patrimoine, patrimonie, from Anglo-French patremoine, from Latin patrimonium, from patr-, pater father

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More Definitions for patrimony

patrimony

noun
How to pronounce patrimony (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of patrimony

formal
: property that you receive from your father when he dies
: things that are from the past

See the full definition for patrimony in the English Language Learners Dictionary

patrimony

noun
pat·​ri·​mo·​ny | \ ˈpa-trə-ˌmō-nē How to pronounce patrimony (audio) \
plural patrimonies

Legal Definition of patrimony

1 : an estate inherited from one's father or ancestor to deprive her and her coheirs of their patrimony — Wells Fargo Bank v. Kincaid, 260 Cal. App. 2d 120 (1968)
2 : an estate or endowment belonging to a church the property of a dissolved parish shall pass to the patrimony of the diocese
3 in the civil law of Louisiana : the net assets of a person : the sum of a person's assets and liabilities reimbursement shall be made from the patrimony of the spouse who owes reimbursement — Louisiana Civil Code

History and Etymology for patrimony

Middle French patrimonie, from Latin patrimonium, from patr- pater father

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