heirloom

noun

heir·​loom ˈer-ˌlüm 

1

: a piece of property (such as a deed or charter) that descends to the heir as an inseparable part of an inheritance of real property

2

: something of special value handed down from one generation to another

The pin she's wearing is a family heirloom.

3

: a variety of plant that has originated under cultivation and that has survived for several generations usually due to the efforts of private individuals

heirloom tomatoes

Examples of heirloom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her jewelry shifts from sedate heirlooms to big, bold costume pieces. —Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

Users can also submit an image of a piece of jewelry for production through Arcade, which Naficy said she’s seen in the platform’s beta testing from customers who want to recreate a family heirloom or a lost piece of jewelry. —Layla Ilchi, WWD, 30 Oct. 2024

Nearby, beaded heirloom necklaces from Egypt show the far reach of the Silk Roads, as they were made from materials from elsewhere, like amber from the Baltic North, etched carnelian beads from Iran, and green glass beads strung with tiny shells from Sri Lanka and South India. —Emi Eleode, ARTnews.com, 30 Oct. 2024

Unlike heirloom recipes, one aspect that does tend to change from one generation to the next is our approach to beauty. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ayre lome, heyr lome, from ayre, heyr heir entry 1 + lome "implement" — more at loom entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

heirloom

noun

heir·​loom ˈa(ə)r-ˌlüm 

ˈe(ə)r-

: a piece of personal property handed down from generation to generation