Heritage Meaning
/ˈhɛɹ.ɪ.tɪd͡ʒ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn inheritance; property that may be inherited.
nounA tradition; a practice or set of values that is passed down from preceding generations through families or through institutional memory.
Sentence Examples
We must all take care to preserve our national heritage.
We have a rich historical heritage.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The family's cultural ____ included ancient recipes and songs.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Maintaining our cultural ____ is important for future generations to understand their history.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English heritage, from Old French eritage, heritage (modern French héritage), ultimately derived (through suffixation) from Latin hērēs. By surface analysis, herit + -age.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Now unſpeakable happy are all thoſe that have ſuch an heritage: can we thinke they will part with it? No verily, […] they will not part with ſuch an inheritance as Chriſt is, rich, fat, alwayes fruitfull, and never decaying."
— 1652, John Robotham, chapter III, in An Exposition: On the whole Book of Solomons Song; Commonly called The Canticles., London, →OCLC, page 413:
"In fact it was a multifarious agglomerate of many little countries, gathered by marriage, heritage and luck, in the course of centuries, and now united in the hand of this Duke Wilhelm."
— 1858, Thomas Carlyle, chapter XIII, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book III, page 247:
"The first is that learning, continuous learning, is an intrinsic part of the American tradition. In some ways it constitutes the core of our social heritage, and no doubt accounts for the tremendous organizational and productive achievements which have taken place in this country. However, it is possible to move away from, even to lose one's heritage."
— 1947, Norris E. Class, chapter VII, in Marjorie Bell, editor, Redirecting the Delinquent: 1947 Yearbook, New York: National Parole and Probation Association, page 234:
"When a language dies members of the culture of which that language was once a part may attempt to hold on to their linguistic heritage, if not by the use of the defunct language itself, at least by the preservation of its script."
— 2007, J. N. Adams, “The Republic: inscriptions”, in The Regional Diversification of Latin 200 BC - AD 600, Cambridge University Press, page 105:
"On Friday, Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian American who is running for governor of Ohio as a Republican, took on a faction on the right that is pushing the idea that so-called “heritage Americans” — people whose families have been in the country for multiple generations — have a greater claim to the nation than more recent arrivals."
— 2025 December 20, Richard Fausset, Ken Bensinger, “Turning Point’s Annual Gathering Turns Into a Gripefest”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The family's cultural ____ included ancient recipes and songs.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Maintaining our cultural ____ is important for future generations to understand their history.