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

Ryan Trecartin is the manic heir apparent to this trash-culture bloodline, updating it for a hyperperformative age. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

But everyone freely calls Gerrit Kazmaier Bhusri’s heir apparent. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

The trustees feared that if something happened to him, his heir apparent, Robert Kahn, would replace him, and it was known that Kahn had Zionistic inclinations. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

That Apple is the heir apparent to NBC’s comedy legacy is admittedly surprising. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 15 Sep. 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