◊ The passing on of property or titles is also hereditary and through the eldest male child of the family.
1 [ATTRIBUTIVE] (Of a person) holding a position by inheritance:I am the hereditary chief of the Piscataway people
2 (Of a characteristic or disease) determined by genetic factors and therefore able to be passed on from parents to their offspring or descendants:cystic fibrosis is our most common fatal hereditary disease
3 Of or relating to inheritance:a form of hereditary succession and dynastic rule became standard practice