heritage

her-i-tage · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Property that is or may be inherited; an inheritance.

  2. 2.

    Valued objects and qualities such as historic buildings, cultural traditions, and aspects of identity passed down from previous generations.

  3. 3.

    A person's background, ancestry, or traditions.

Forms

plural: heritages

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    cultural heritage — traditions, customs, and artifacts of a group
  • •
    world heritage site — a place of outstanding universal value protected by UNESCO
  • •
    heritage language — a language spoken by one's ancestors
  • •
    heritage breed — a traditional variety of domestic animal

Related words

See also: ancestry, inheritance, legacy, tradition
Synonyms: ancestry, inheritance, legacy, tradition

Etymology

From Old French heritage ("inheritance"), from heriter ("to inherit"), from Late Latin hereditare, from Latin heres ("heir").