successor

noun

suc·​ces·​sor sək-ˈse-sər 

: one that follows

especially : one who succeeds to a throne, title, estate, or office

Examples of successor in a Sentence

The CEO's successor used to be the vice president here.

the successor to the throne

Recent Examples on the Web

The poetic interpretation of the photo is of Messi anointing his successor. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Washington responded by turning its assurance into a formal guarantee, though one signed as an executive order a successor can revoke. — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

On Friday, Messi addressed the picture and lauded the 19-year-old, whom many tout at the successor to the Argentine’s throne. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to be confirmed as Deschamps' successor in the coming days by the French soccer federation. — ABC News, 18 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English successour, from Anglo-French, from Latin successor, from succedere

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for successor

• aggressor
• assessor
• compressor
• confessor
• depressor
• hairdresser
• necessar
• oppressor
• possessor
• processor
• professor
• repressor

Kids Definition

successor

noun

suc·​ces·​sor sək-ˈses-ər 

: one that follows

especially : a person who succeeds to a throne, title, estate, or office

Legal Definition

successor

noun

suc·​ces·​sor sək-ˈse-sər 

: one that follows : one that succeeds another (as in a position, title, office, or estate)