heredity

/həˈrɛdəti/
noun
  1. The process by which physical or mental traits are passed from parents to children through genes.
    • The color of your hair is determined by heredity.
    • Heredity explains why you might have your mother's eyes or your father's height.
    • Scientists study heredity to understand how diseases run in families.
  2. The genetic qualities that a person inherits from their parents.
    • Good health can be partly a result of strong heredity.
    • The doctor asked about the patient's heredity to check for risk factors.
    • His artistic talent is part of his heredity from a family of painters.
Antonyms