heir apparent

noun

plural heirs apparent

1

: an heir whose right to an inheritance cannot be voided or undone except by exclusion under a valid will if the heir 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

Kevin Mayer, integral to Disney’s strategic planning and who had recently led the blockbuster launch of Disney+, was viewed a potential heir apparent. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026

San Francisco trades up to try to find an heir apparent to Trent Williams. —Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026

In the end, there was to be no heir apparent to Mickey Thomas as Wrexham’s FA Cup hero. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026

Sarah Bond, the President and COO of Xbox, who had been considered Spencer’s heir apparent, is also leaving the company. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for heir apparent

• aberrant
• declarant
• grandparent
• stepparent
• transparent
• errant
• parent
• semitransparent

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 also:

heir