Primogeniture
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents. countable, uncountable
- 2 right of inheritance belongs exclusively to the eldest son wordnet
- 3 The principle that the eldest child has an exclusive right of inheritance. countable, uncountable
"On these grounds, I contend the mere possession of large property, which is all that primogeniture insures, is by no means a sufficient and unobjectionable qualification for a legislator."
- 4 An instance of such a right of inheritance, established by custom or law. countable
"The King of Sardinia, by a decree of the 9th of Dec. has abolished— 1. The prohibition against the erection of primogenitures and feudal rights, enacted by the 9th section of the edict of the 29th of July 1797, or by any other law; restricting, however, to those primogenitures and majorats only which shall be erected in favour of persons[…]."
Example
More examples"Primogeniture was ever driving from England her younger sons to found New Englands and expand the commerce of the motherland."
Etymology
From French, from Late Latin primogenitura, from Latin primus (“first”) + genitura (“birth”) (from genitus, past participle of gignere).
Related phrases
More for "primogeniture"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.