Inherent vs. Innate: What's the Difference?
Inherent and Innate Definitions
Inherent
Existing as an essential constituent or characteristic; intrinsic
The dangers inherent in the surgery.
The inherent instability of financial markets.
Innate
Existing naturally or by heredity rather than being learned through experience
"Chimpanzees show an innate distrust of contact with strangers" (Cindy Engel).
Inherent
Naturally as part or consequence of something.
Innate
Of or produced by the mind rather than learned through experience
An innate knowledge of right and wrong.
Inherent
Permanently existing in something; inseparably attached or connected; naturally pertaining to; innate; inalienable; as, polarity is an inherent quality of the magnet; the inherent right of men to life, liberty, and protection.
The sore disease which seems inherent in civilization.
ADVERTISEMENT
Innate
Possessed as an essential characteristic; inherent
"As the Army and farmers built more and more levees, the Missouri lost an innate capacity to absorb its frequent excesses" (William Least Heat-Moon).
Inherent
Existing as an essential constituent or characteristic;
The Ptolemaic system with its built-in concept of periodicity
A constitutional inability to tell the truth
Innate
Inborn; existing or having existed since birth.
Inherent
Present at birth but not necessarily hereditary; acquired during fetal development
Innate
(philosophy) Originating in, or derived from, the constitution of the intellect, as opposed to acquired from experience.
Innate ideas
ADVERTISEMENT
Inherent
In the nature of something though not readily apparent;
Shortcomings inherent in our approach
An underlying meaning
Innate
Instinctive; coming from instinct.
Innate
(botany) Joined by the base to the very tip of a filament.
An innate anther
Innate
(obsolete) To cause to exist; to call into being.
Innate
Inborn; native; natural; as, innate vigor; innate eloquence.
Innate
Originating in, or derived from, the constitution of the intellect, as opposed to acquired from experience; as, innate ideas. See A priori, Intuitive.
There is an innate light in every man, discovering to him the first lines of duty in the common notions of good and evil.
Men would not be guilty if they did not carry in their mind common notions of morality, innate and written in divine letters.
If I could only show, as I hope I shall . . . how men, barely by the use of their natural faculties, may attain to all the knowledge they have, without the help of any innate impressions; and may arrive at certainty without any such original notions or principles.
Innate
Joined by the base to the very tip of a filament; as, an innate anther.
Innate
To cause to exit; to call into being.
Innate
Not established by conditioning or learning;
An unconditioned reflex
Innate
Being talented through inherited qualities;
A natural leader
A born musician
An innate talent
Innate
Present at birth but not necessarily hereditary; acquired during fetal development
