hereditarily

Hereditarily is an adverb meaning “in a hereditary or inherited manner.” It is used to describe traits, conditions, or characteristics that are transmitted from parents to offspring through genetic or familial inheritance.

The word is formed from the adjective hereditary by adding the adverbial suffix -ly. Its etymology lies in Late Latin hereditarius, from Latin heres, “heir.” The term is most common in formal, scientific, or scholarly writing.

In genetics and medicine, hereditarily can describe a trait or disease that is transmitted across generations. The form is relatively rare in everyday language; many writers prefer the adjective hereditary and related nouns such as heredity or inheritance, or use inherited to describe a trait. When the emphasis is on transmission rather than the property of the trait, phrases like “hereditarily transmitted” or “inherited” are often clearer.

Related terms include hereditary, heredity, inheritance, and genetic transmission.