What does inherent mean?
Word: Inherent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Inherent means being a natural, lasting part of something that cannot be taken away.
Synonyms: intrinsic, essential
Word origin: Came into English in the 1500s from Latin.
How do you spell inherent?
Syllables: in - her - ent
Tricky part: Ant or ent? The weak last vowel tempts students to write inherant. It is ent.
Watch out for: inherant, inherrent, inherint
Memory tip: A quality that is inherent is permanent, and the two words end alike.
Inherent in a sentence
Example 1: Bamboo's inherent strength makes it useful for building scaffolding.
Example 2: Every plan has some inherent weaknesses, so the team made a backup.
Example 3: Honesty is an inherent part of good teamwork.
Fun Fact
Despite its look, this word has no link with receiving something from a relative. Its Latin source is about things that stick together.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Probe
Choose the meaning of the misspelt word in the given sentence:
Her inhirent curiosity about insects led her to fill three notebooks with sketches of beetles and moths.
a) forming a basic part of who someone is
b) an eager wish to find out about things
c) a quick and simple drawing of something
d) a night-flying insect with soft wings
Show answer
a) forming a basic part of who someone is. The adjective needs an e after the h, not an i.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its synonym:
1. inherent 2. transient 3. lucid a. short-lived b. clear c. built-in
a) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b. Transient joys do not last, and a lucid account is a clear one.
Word Champ
Read the statements and choose the correct option:
1. Playfulness is inherent in kittens. 2. An heirloom is a valuable object handed down in a family. 3. A hermit is a person who loves crowded parties.
a) only 3 is true
b) all three are true
c) only 2 and 3 are true
d) only 1 and 2 are true
Show answer
d) only 1 and 2 are true. A hermit chooses to live alone, so that statement fails.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the sentence?
A sense of fair play seems inherent in our goalkeeper, who always congratulates the other team and thanks the referee after every match.
a) 0
b) 1
c) 3
d) 2
Show answer
a) 0. Check each long word: all are spelt correctly, so the count is zero.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If sweetness is inherent in ripe mangoes, it ____.
a) is added by the shopkeeper
b) appears only after cooking
c) depends on the price paid
d) comes naturally with the fruit
Show answer
d) comes naturally with the fruit
2. Which of these is an inherent feature of ice?
a) being kept in a freezer
b) being cold
c) being sold in bags
d) being served in a glass
Show answer
b) being cold
