heredity
gb/hɚˈɛdəti/ us/hɚˈɛdəti/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
process
1
biological inheritance of traits
the way parents pass traits to their children through genes
Usage pattern:
[trait] is influenced/determined by heredity; the heredity of [organism]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse heredity with heritage, which usually refers to culture, traditions, or property from the past.
Synonyms
genetic inheritance (more explicit and scientific)
|
inheritance (broader; can also refer to money, property, or cultural things)
|
genetic transmission (emphasizes the passing of genes or traits)
Antonyms
acquired traits (traits developed during life rather than inherited genetically)
|
environment (contrasts inherited genetic influence with external conditions)
Collocations
role of heredity
|laws of heredity
|principles of heredity
|study of heredity
|human heredity
|patterns of heredity
|mechanisms of heredity
|influence of heredity
|heredity and environment
|genetics and heredity
Themes
biology
|genetics
|family
|science
|health
Examples
- Eye color is strongly influenced by heredity, although many traits involve several genes.
- The class studied heredity to understand how traits pass from one generation to the next.
- Modern genetics has explained many of the mechanisms of heredity.
Learner examples
- Heredity can affect a child's eye color.
- We learn about heredity in biology.
Noun
C1
abstract
2
inherited genetic factors
the genes and inherited traits someone gets from their parents and ancestors
Usage pattern:
[someone's] heredity; heredity versus [environment/lifestyle]
Common mistake:
Heredity usually refers to biological inheritance, not nationality, family customs, or cultural background.
Synonyms
genetic makeup (common and clear in medical or everyday contexts)
|
genetic background (emphasizes family or ancestral genetic history)
|
genetic constitution (more formal or scientific)
Antonyms
environment (external conditions rather than inherited biology)
|
upbringing (how someone is raised rather than what they inherit genetically)
|
lifestyle (habits and choices rather than inherited factors)
Collocations
a person's heredity
|family heredity
|genetic heredity
|heredity and lifestyle
|heredity and upbringing
|effects of heredity
|influence of heredity
Themes
biology
|genetics
|health
|family
|psychology
Examples
- Doctors look at a patient's heredity as well as diet, exercise, and exposure to toxins.
- A person's heredity can affect how they respond to certain medicines.
- The study compared twins to separate the effects of heredity from those of home environment.
Learner examples
- Her heredity may make her more likely to have allergies.
- Heredity is only one part of a person's health.
Grammar
Dictionary form
heredity
IPA
GB/hɚˈɛdəti/
US/hɚˈɛdəti/
Syllables & stress
hered - ity (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (hered)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: heredity
- Plural: heredity
Expressions
heredity and environment
1/hɚˈɛdəti ˈænd ɪnvˈaɪɹənmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
genes and surroundings together
genes and life conditions considered together or compared
Examples
- The debate over intelligence often considers both heredity and environment.
- Researchers studied twins to measure the relative influence of heredity and environment.
- A child's height depends on heredity and environment, including genes and nutrition.
laws of heredity
1/lˈɔz əv hɚˈɛdəti/
fixed phrase
technical
rules of genetic inheritance
rules that explain how traits pass from parents to children
Examples
- Mendel's laws of heredity explain why some traits reappear after skipping a generation.
- Students used pea-plant examples to learn the basic laws of heredity.
- The laws of heredity helped scientists predict patterns of inheritance.