Definition of: inherent

(in·hir′ənt, -her′-) adjective
1. Permanently united; intrinsic; innate; essential.
2. Pertaining as a property or attribute. Also in·he·ren·tial (in′hi·ren′shəl). [<L inhaerens, -entis, ppr. of inhaerere INHERE]
—in·her′ent·ly adverb Synonyms: congenital, essential, immanent, inborn, inbred, indispensable, indwelling, infixed, ingrained, innate, inseparable, internal, intrinsic, inwrought, native, natural, subjective. Immanent is a philosophic word, to denote that which dwells in or pervades any substance or spirit without necessarily being a part of it. That which is inherent is an inseparable part of that in which it inheres, and is usually thought of with reference to some outworking or effect; as, an inherent difficulty. God is said to be immanent (not inherent) in the universe. Frequently intrinsic and inherent can be interchanged, but inherent applies to qualities, while intrinsic applies to essence, so that to speak of intrinsic excellence conveys higher praise than if we say inherent excellence. Inherent and intrinsic may be said of persons or things; congenital, inborn, inbred, innate, apply to living beings. Congenital is frequent in medical and legal use with special application to defects; as, congenital idiocy. Innate and inborn are almost identical, but innate is preferred in philosophic use, as when we speak of innate ideas; that which is inborn, congenital, or innate may be original with the individual, but that which is inbred is inherited. Ingrained signifies dyed in the grain, and denotes that which is deeply wrought into substance or character. See NATURAL. Antonyms: accidental, casual, external, extrinsic, fortuitous, incidental, outward, subsidiary, superadded, superficial, superfluous, superimposed, supplemental, transient, unconnected.