heiress

noun

heir·​ess ˈer-əs How to pronounce heiress (audio)
Synonyms of heiressnext
: a woman who is an heir especially to great wealth

Examples of heiress in a Sentence

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.
For their first soccer game, the hotel heiress enlisted her kids' help to place the official opening match ball on its stand. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 27 June 2026 The hotel heiress and media personality alleges staff members beat her, watched her shower, fed her unknown pills and locked her in solitary confinement without clothing. — ABC News, 15 June 2026 This historic site on the Indian River was once the home of Coca-Cola heiress Anne Bates Leach. — Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 28 June 2026 Robert was also previously married to heiress and costume designer Christophe de Menil, who died in August 2025 at the age of 92. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for heiress

Word History

Etymology

heir entry 1 + -ess

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heiress was in 1607

Phrases Containing heiress

Rhymes for heiress

See All Rhymes for heiress

Browse Nearby Words

heirdom
heiress
heiress apparent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heiress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heiress. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

heiress

noun
heir·​ess ˈar-əs How to pronounce heiress (audio)
ˈer-
: a girl or woman who is an heir

More from Merriam-Webster on heiress

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for heiress

Nglish: Translation of heiress for Spanish Speakers

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