heir apparent

noun

plural heirs apparent

1

: an heir whose right to an inheritance is indefeasible except by exclusion under a valid will if he or she survives the ancestor

2

: heir presumptive

3

: one whose succession especially to a position or role appears certain under existing circumstances

Examples of heir apparent in a Sentence

The coach named her assistant as her heir apparent.

Recent Examples on the Web

The message was clear: Holliday was the heir apparent to Orioles’ royalty. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2024

The doc lifts the lid on the creation of the legendary studio, a former nightclub which had played host to Chuck Berry and BB King before its reincarnation into the recording home of the heir apparent to the guitar god throne. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

heir apparent

noun

plural heirs apparent

: an heir whose right to succeed (as to a throne) cannot be taken away if he or she outlives the present holder

Legal Definition

heir apparent

see heir