Standard Lemma guide

inherently

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: /ɪnˈhɛɹəntli/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH0 N HH IH1 R AH0 N T L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: IH0 N HH EH1 R AH0 N T L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In an inherent way; naturally, innately.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: essentially, in and of itself, inherently, innately, intrinsically, naturally, per se

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in an inherent manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the subject matter is sexual activity of any overt kind, which is depicted as inherently desirable and exciting

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1én Proto-Italic *en Proto-Italic *en- Latin in- Latin haereō Latin inhaereō Latin inhaerentembor. English inherent Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English inherently From inherent + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: inherentment — inherently, innately
  • Chinese Mandarin: 本质 (běnzhí) — inherently, innately
  • French: intrinsèquement — inherently, innately
  • French: inhéremment — inherently, innately
  • French: naturellement — inherently, innately
  • Georgian: არსებითად (arsebitad) — inherently, innately
  • German: von Natur aus — inherently, innately
  • Greek: εγγενώς (engenós) — inherently, innately
  • Haitian Creole: natirèlman — inherently, innately
  • Italian: intrinsecamente — inherently, innately
  • Middle English: kyndely — inherently, innately
  • Polish: nieodłącznie — inherently, innately
  • Polish: z założenia — inherently, innately
  • Portuguese: inerentemente — inherently, innately
  • Romanian: inerent — inherently, innately
  • Romanian: inalienabil — inherently, innately
  • Spanish: inherentemente — inherently, innately
  • Swedish: inherent — inherently, innately
  • Ukrainian: по су́ті (po súti) — inherently, innately
Real reading context

inherently in complete knowledge articles