heritage

noun

1. 1

   An inheritance; property that may be inherited.

2. 2

   A tradition; a practice or set of values that is passed down from preceding generations through families or through institutional memory.

3. 3

   A birthright; the status acquired by birth, especially of but not exclusive to the firstborn.

4. 4

   Having a certain background, such as growing up with a second language.

   “The university requires heritage Spanish students to enroll in a specially designed Spanish program not available to non-heritage students.”