English Reference
Adjective

inherent

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US /ɪnˈhɛɹənt/ UK /ɪnhˈiəɹənt/ in·her·ent

adj.existing as a natural and permanent part of something. You use this to describe a quality that cannot be separated from the person or thing you are talking about.

adj.existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute. Often used to describe risks, rights, or qualities that are inseparable from the nature of the subject.


SIMPLE

There is an inherent risk in every new business venture.

CONTEXTUAL

The lawyer argued that the right to free speech is inherent to a democratic society.

COMPLEX

While the technology offers significant benefits, critics point to the inherent biases in the data sets used to train the underlying algorithms.

Usage

Typically used before a noun or after a linking verb; often followed by the preposition 'to' or 'in'.

Usage inherent in

Representatives of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) at the inquest acknowledged the inherent limitations of hatch checks.

BreakingNews.ie· 26 Aug 2026

There is an inherent tension in political social media.

BBC News· 20 Aug 2026

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

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin inhaerentem
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated