Patrimony
noun /ˈpæt.rɪ.mə.ni/ — Cultural or ancestral inheritance; what is passed from father to child
Definition
Property or rights inherited from one's father or ancestors — or more broadly, a heritage of cultural, intellectual, or spiritual wealth passed down through generations.
Beyond the definition
The weight of what was given. Patrimony is inheritance that comes with obligation — you have received something that was built before you and must be preserved or added to. You are a link in a chain, not a beginning.
Origin & history
From Latin 'patrimonium' (inherited estate) — from 'pater' (father) + '-monium' (condition, charge). The father's charge — what the father is responsible for passing on. Related to 'patron', 'paternal', 'expatriate'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The library was the patrimony of the family — accumulated over three generations and understood as a trust, not a possession.
Cultural patrimony extends beyond property: language, custom, and the particular way of seeing the world that a civilisation transmits.
He felt the weight of his patrimony — not the money but the expectations, the manner, the specific form his ambitions were expected to take.
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 “Patrimony” when the meaning fits your context: Property or rights inherited from one's father or ancestors — or more broadly, a heritage of cultural, intellectual, or spiritual wealth passed down through generations.
Synonyms
Antonyms
disinheritance, starting from nothing
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Patrimony" mean?
Patrimony is noun meaning: Cultural or ancestral inheritance; what is passed from father to child. Property or rights inherited from one's father or ancestors — or more broadly, a heritage of cultural, intellectual, or spiritual wealth passed down through generations.
Where does the word "Patrimony" come from?
From Latin 'patrimonium' (inherited estate) — from 'pater' (father) + '-monium' (condition, charge). The father's charge — what the father is responsible for passing on. Related to 'patron', 'paternal', 'expatriate'.