Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

inherent

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈhɪər(ə)nt, -ˈhɛr(ə)nt/
Translate inherent | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of inherent

adjective

  • existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute:any form of mountaineering has its inherent dangers
  • Law vested in (someone) as a right or privilege.
  • Linguistics (of an adjective) having the same meaning in both attributive and predicative uses.

Derivatives

inherence

noun

inherently

adverb

Origin:

late 16th century: from Latin inhaerent- 'sticking to', from the verb inhaerere, from in- 'in, towards' + haerere 'to stick'

Spelling help

Spell inherent with -her- in the middle; the ending is -ent.

inherent in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of inherent in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

GET PRO ►

Shop for an Oxford dictionary
Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

logomachy

/ ləˈgɒməki /
noun
an argument about words …