Heirloom
noun /ˈeər.luːm/ — A valued possession passed down through generations
Definition
A valuable object — especially a piece of furniture or household utensil — that has belonged to a family for several generations. The thing that carries family history in its material.
Beyond the definition
The object that is also a relationship. An heirloom connects you to people you have never met — you hold what they held, use what they valued, and continue the chain.
Origin & history
From Middle English 'heir' (one who inherits) + 'loom' (a tool or implement — from Old English 'gelōma'). Literally a tool passed to the heir. The implement that inherits.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The watch was an heirloom — his great-grandfather had carried it through one war and his grandfather through another.
The kitchen table was technically an heirloom, but its heirloom quality came from use rather than preservation.
Some ideas are heirlooms: passed from generation to generation, carrying the weight of everyone who held them before.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Heirloom” when the meaning fits your context: A valuable object — especially a piece of furniture or household utensil — that has belonged to a family for several generations. The thing that carries family history in its material.
Synonyms
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Heirloom" mean?
Heirloom is noun meaning: A valued possession passed down through generations. A valuable object — especially a piece of furniture or household utensil — that has belonged to a family for several generations. The thing that carries family history in its material.
Where does the word "Heirloom" come from?
From Middle English 'heir' (one who inherits) + 'loom' (a tool or implement — from Old English 'gelōma'). Literally a tool passed to the heir. The implement that inherits.