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Glite Dictionary
nonheritable

nonheritable

7.8
A disease or trait that parents cannot pass to their children through genes
  • adjective
  • /nɒnˈhɜːrɪtəbl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : no heredable
  • Some diseases are purely environmental and therefore nonheritable.

Examples

  • Unlike hemophilia, which is genetic, this disorder is entirely nonheritable.

  • The condition is nonheritable.

  • The condition was determined to be nonheritable after extensive genetic testing of the family.

  • Some traits are nonheritable, meaning they won't be passed down.

  • Some diseases are nonheritable, meaning they cannot be passed down from parents to their children.

  • The researchers found that the traits related to height in this study were nonheritable and mostly affected by environmental factors.

  • Unlike many genetic conditions, this particular trait is nonheritable and can occur due to lifestyle choices.

Synonyms

nongenetic
vsnonheritable
  • Specialized
1 6.5

Not caused by genes but by things like the environment or experience

focuses on inability to be passed by genetic means rather than cause
noninheritable
vsnonheritable
8.2

Not able to be passed down from parents to children

is the same in meaning but differs only in word form
nonhereditary
vsnonheritable
  • Specialized
6.9

Does not pass from parents to children through genes

shares meaning but differs only in phrasing or usage
nonparental
vsnonheritable
  • Specialized
8.1

A trait in offspring that is different from both parents

applies more broadly to traits that cannot be passed through genes
nonfamilial
vsnonheritable
  • Specialized
8.1

Does not come from parents

refers to traits that cannot be passed on through genes

Antonyms

heritable
  • Specialized
3 6.9

Can be passed down to children or other family members

inherited
  • Specialized
3.4

Passed from parents to children through genes

How Heritable

heritable
  • Specialized
3 6.9
genetic
  • Specialized
925 3.8
acquired
  • Specialized
4.1
nonheritable
  • Specialized
7.8

Surface Forms

nonheritable positive

Morphology

nonheritable = heritable (transparent) = non + herit + able

The meaning is a straightforward negation: 'non-' + 'heritable' = 'not able to be inherited'.

Etymology

Nonheritable starts with non- meaning 'not' and the rest links to words like inherit, heir, and heritage, which all mean to be 'passed down'. So nonheritable describes a trait or disease that cannot be passed from parents to children.