Heredity means that a specific status or title (e.g. official rank, peerage) held by a parent or their occupation or the like is passed on to their children, family members or in-laws, thus ensuring that such successors obtain social power and authority.
世襲（せしゅう）とは、親の手にしている特定の地位や肩書き(官位や爵位など)、職業等を、その子や係累が引き継ぎ、それによって社会的な権力や権限を得ることである。