inherent

English

Alternative forms

• inhærent (archaic)

Etymology

From Latin inhaerentem, accusative singular of inhaerēns, present active participle of inhaereō (“I am closely connected with; adhere to”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈhɪəɹənt/, /ɪnˈhɛɹənt/

• Audio (UK)

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Adjective

inherent (not comparable)

1. Naturally as part or consequence of something.

   Synonyms: inbuilt, ingrained, intrinsic; see also Thesaurus:intrinsic

   Antonyms: extrinsic; see also Thesaurus:extrinsic

   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. , volume I, London: Henry Colburn, , →OCLC, pages 244–245:

     There is a stern melancholy in his dark features, inherent and engrossing, which rivets the attention.

   • 2014 June 14, “It's a gas”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8891:

     One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains. […] But out of sight is out of mind. And that, together with the inherent yuckiness of the subject, means that many old sewers have been neglected and are in dire need of repair.

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with inherit.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• “inherent”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “inherent”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin inhaerentem.

Adjective

inherent m or f (masculine and feminine plural inherents)

1. inherent

Derived terms

• inherentment

Further reading

• “inherent” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “inherent”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2024
• “inherent” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “inherent” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.