Definition of "hereditary"

Passed on as an inheritance, by last will or intestate.  examples

Of a title, honor or right: legally granted to somebody's descendant after that person's death.  examples

Of a person: holding a legally hereditary title or rank.  examples

Of a disease or trait: passed from a parent to offspring in the genes.  examples

(mathematics) Of a ring: such that all submodules of projective modules over the ring are also projective.  examples

A hereditary ruler; a hereditary peer in the House of Lords.  examples