heritable

adjective

her·​i·​ta·​ble ˈher-ə-tə-bəl How to pronounce heritable (audio)
ˈhe-rə-
1
: capable of being inherited or of passing by inheritance
2

Examples of heritable in a Sentence

heritable characteristics like skin and eye and hair color
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The theory holds that Gregor Mendel's concept of a gene (a discrete heritable trait or phenotype) is the consequence of a change in the text of DNA that alters the function of a protein and, therefore, the phenotype. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 Share [Findings] Sets of both fraternal and identical twins exhibit internally similar metacognitive abilities, suggesting that metacognition is environmental rather than heritable. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 The nucleotide substitution in the HBB gene—producing what’s known as hemoglobin S, in contrast to normal hemoglobin A—is heritable. Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024 Identical twins are slightly closer in their cynicism than fraternal twins, for instance, but the genetic and heritable component seems pretty small. Sean Illing, Vox, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for heritable 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, from heriter "to inherit, make an heir" + -able -able — more at heritage

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heritable was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near heritable

Cite this Entry

“Heritable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heritable. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

heritable

adjective
her·​i·​ta·​ble ˈher-ət-ə-bəl How to pronounce heritable (audio)
: capable of being inherited : hereditary
heritable differences in structure

Medical Definition

heritable

adjective
her·​i·​ta·​ble ˈher-ət-ə-bəl How to pronounce heritable (audio)
: hereditary
one of several heritable childhood cancersW. K. Cavenee et al.

Legal Definition

heritable

adjective
her·​i·​ta·​ble ˈher-ə-tə-bəl How to pronounce heritable (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on heritable

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