noun / adjective

legacy

LEG-uh-see/ˈleɡəsi/

Something passed on from an earlier owner or period.

The orchard and tools form the gardener's legacy to the younger family members.

An older gardener leaves tools and a thriving orchard to younger family members who continue caring for it after the gardener is gone.

Etymology

Legatia concerned a body of envoys, but its underlying verb also meant “appoint by a last will.” That testamentary meaning connects legacy with property left after death and, more broadly, things handed down.

In context

Megan J. McArdle3:58

and I think we have an obligation to pay that forward and leave an even bigger legacy for our descendants.

I’ll Probably Lose My Job to AI. Here’s Why That’s OK | Megan J. McArdle | TED

TED-Ed speaker4:42

This project extends Koyama's legacy far beyond her own lifetime,

The woman who stared at the Sun - Alex Gendler

More examples

The town's public gardens are a legacy of her generosity.
The factory leaves a legacy of polluted soil.
The bank still relies on legacy software to process payments.

Forms

legacy · legacies

Similar words

inheritance: Usually emphasizes property received after someone's death rather than lasting influence.
bequest: Specifically identifies money or property given through a will.
heritage: Emphasizes shared traditions and history passed down through generations.