entail

1 of 2

verb

en·​tail in-ˈtāl How to pronounce entail (audio)
en-
entailed; entailing; entails
Synonyms of entail

transitive verb

1
: to have (something) as a necessary part, accompaniment, or result
What exactly does the job entail?
The procedure does entail certain risks.
The process has tax benefits but also entails costs.—David Roeder
2
law : to restrict (property) by limiting the inheritance to the owner's lineal descendants or to a particular class thereof
3
a
: to confer, assign, or transmit (something) for an indefinitely long time : to confer, assign, or transmit as if by entail
Entailed on them indelible disgrace …—Robert Browning
b
: to fix (a person) permanently in some condition or status
… entail him and his heirs unto the crown …—William Shakespeare
entailer
in-ˈtā-lər How to pronounce entail (audio)
en-
noun

entail

2 of 2

noun

en·​tail ˈen-ˌtāl How to pronounce entail (audio) in-ˈtāl How to pronounce entail (audio)
1
a
: a restriction especially of lands by limiting the inheritance to the owner's lineal descendants or to a particular class thereof
b
: an entailed (see entail entry 1 sense 2) estate
2
: something transmitted as if by entail

Synonyms of entail

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of entail in a Sentence

Verb Pregnancy involves the bodily dependence of the unborn child on its mother; in many cases, it entails a significant physical burden. —Cathleen Kaveny, Commonweal, 4 May 2007
… it was a Master Highlighter Event, a two-day guest appearance by one of Kinkade's specially trained assistants, who would highlight any picture bought during the event for free. Highlighting a picture is not that different from highlighting your hair: it entails stippling tiny bright dots of paint on the picture to give it more texture and luminescence. —Susan Orlean, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2001
Life is a difficult and complicated enterprise. It entails joy but also suffering, gain but also loss, hope but also despair. —Neal Gabler, Life: The Movie, 1998
Discourse is a social as well as an intellectual activity; it entails interaction between minds, and it revolves around something possessed in common. —David A. Hollinger, In the American Province, (1985) 1992
He accepted the responsibility, with all that it entails. a lavish wedding entails extensive planning and often staggering expense
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Scientists use this technique, called candling — which historically entailed holding up a burning candle — to assess the contents of shark eggs for health, viability and genetic diversity. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 For the government, the task entails accelerating the transition of promising technologies from laboratories to operational environments while simultaneously preserving research leadership. — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 As her translator, Anedda’s thought, as well as some of her courage, became part of my existence in the long months such a project entails. — Wallis Wilde-Menozzi, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 Here’s a look at what mobility tests entail and how to apply the results to your health. — Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for entail

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English entailen, entaillen "to restrict the inheritance of (property) to a particular class of heirs," borrowed from Anglo-French entailler, from en- en- entry 1 + -tailler, derivative of taille "cutting, shape in which cloth is cut, style, manner, restriction of the inheritance of an estate," derivative of tailler "to cut, fashion, stipulate, curtail, restrict (inheritance)" — more at tailor entry 1

Note: Alternatively, entailler could be regarded as a parasynthetic derivative of the phrase en (la) taille "restricted to a particular class of heirs." Compare tail entry 3, tail entry 4, and tally entry 1Alternatively, entailler could be regarded as a parasynthetic derivative of the phrase en (la) taille "restricted to a particular class of heirs." Compare 3TAIL, 4TAIL, and 1TALLY. .

Noun

Middle English entaile, derivative of entailen, entaillen "to entail entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of entail was in the 14th century

Rhymes for entail

See All Rhymes for entail

Browse Nearby Words

Entada
entail
entailer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Entail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entail. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

entail

1 of 2 verb
en·​tail in-ˈtā(ə)l How to pronounce entail (audio)
1
: to limit the inheritance of (property) to the owner's direct descendants or to a certain group of them
2
: to have as a necessary part or result
the essay entails a lot of research
entailment
-mənt How to pronounce entail (audio)
noun

entail

2 of 2 noun
en·​tail ˈen-ˌtāl How to pronounce entail (audio) in-ˈtā(ə)l How to pronounce entail (audio)
1
a
: an entailing of property
b
: an entailed estate
2
: the rule fixing descent by entailment

Legal Definition

entail

1 of 2 transitive verb
en·​tail in-ˈtāl How to pronounce entail (audio)
: to make (an estate in real property) a fee tail : limit the descent of (real property) by restricting inheritance to specific descendants who cannot convey or transfer the property
estates are entailed entire on the eldest male heir—Benjamin Franklin
entailment noun

entail

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act or instance of entailing real property
also : the practice of entailing property
the repeal of the laws of entail would prevent the accumulation and perpetuation of wealth in select families —Thomas Jefferson
see also De Donis Conditionalibus
2
: an entailed estate in real property
if entails had not become barrable—Eileen Spring
3
: the fixed line of descent of an entailed estate
Etymology

Transitive verb

Middle English entaillen, from en-, causative prefix + taille restriction on inheritance see tail

More from Merriam-Webster on entail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about entail

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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