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
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
Looking into the near future, the Rams do not have a clear heir apparent to Stafford.
—
Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Dresses worn by Queen Mathilde of Belgium and her eldest daughter and heir apparent Princess Elisabeth were also featured in the exhibit.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025
Charlotte Moore Charlotte Moore was viewed by some as the heir apparent to Davie’s predecessor Tony Hall, and it was expected that the former BBC content boss would become DG in 2020 after Hall stepped down.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Christine Pelosi, who until Monday was considered her mother’s likely heir apparent on Capitol Hill, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heir apparent
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Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Dresses worn by Queen Mathilde of Belgium and her eldest daughter and heir apparent Princess Elisabeth were also featured in the exhibit.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025
Charlotte Moore Charlotte Moore was viewed by some as the heir apparent to Davie’s predecessor Tony Hall, and it was expected that the former BBC content boss would become DG in 2020 after Hall stepped down.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Christine Pelosi, who until Monday was considered her mother’s likely heir apparent on Capitol Hill, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heir apparent
Cite this Entry
“Heir apparent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heir%20apparent. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.
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