inheritance
noun
, -ˈhe-rə-\
Definition of inheritance
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Synonyms for inheritance
Synonyms
bequest, birthright, heritage, legacy, patrimony
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Examples of inheritance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In this case, the furniture not only evokes the bodies of mother and daughter, but the inheritance passed from one to the other. — Sharon Mizota, Los Angeles Times, "A love letter to mom in 72 photos: Artist Susan Mogul’s latest, now on view," 20 Aug. 2019 While in the hospital, Southwick King presented him with legal documents that would affect the inheritance of their two adult sons and give her certain rights to their property, sources told TMZ. — Cicero Estrella, The Mercury News, "Larry King headed for eighth divorce," 20 Aug. 2019 Darlington researched the ways that chromosomes influenced heredity, which eventually grew into an interest in eugenics, particularly the role of race in the inheritance of intelligence. — Leila Mcneill, Smithsonian, "The Pioneering Female Botanist Who Sweetened a Nation and Saved a Valley," 1 Aug. 2019 The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. — Time, "'What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?': The History of Frederick Douglass' Searing Independence Day Oration," 3 July 2019 The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. — Dallas News, "Frederick Douglass speech raises question: Should African-Americans celebrate the Fourth of July?," 2 July 2019 Tempelsman stepped in to help Jackie manage her finances and the $26 million inheritance left to her by Onassis. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "The Last Love of Jackie Kennedy Onassis," 16 May 2019 But the youngest of the two, Prince Harry, is said to have received a greater portion of the Queen Mother’s inheritance than his older brother, Prince William. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Why Prince Harry Inherited More Money Than Prince William When Their Great-Grandmother Died," 9 Aug. 2018 The second priority is instituting a law that applies to all citizens in matters such as divorce and inheritance. — Joanna Slater, Washington Post, "In Modi’s move on Kashmir, a road map for his ‘new India’," 15 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inheritance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for inheritance
inheritance
nounFinancial Definition of inheritance
What It Is
An inheritance includes those assets of an estate that are bequeathed, in whole or in part, to specific heirs.
How It Works
The assets that comprise an estate are customarily transferred to individuals specified by name or relationship (e.g. "Howard Jones, III or "grandchild") in the will of the deceased. In the absence of a will, estate assets are transferred according to laws that protect the assets of the deceased (generally passing them to descendants in a specific order). Once transferred, an inheritance is heavily taxed.
For example, Jim's estate is worth $10,000. His will specifies that his son and daughter each receive $5000. Following Jim's death, the son and daughter each receive $5000. This is their inheritance.
Why It Matters
An inheritance represents the material legacy an individual leaves behind after his de
ath. In addition to the family dynamics involved in the transfer of an inheritance, there are significant tax implications for the inheritors depending on their circumstances and on the value of assets received.
Source: Investing Answers
inheritance
noun
English Language Learners Definition of inheritance
See the full definition for inheritance in the English Language Learners Dictionary
inheritance
noun
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Kids Definition of inheritance
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inheritance
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Medical Definition of inheritance
inheritance
noun