heiress

noun

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

Examples of heiress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The charitable organization funded by the Johnson & Johnson heiress is known for gifts to education, health and civic projects. Dave Smith, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025 At the time, Louisville didn’t have a rehabilitation center, and so the heiress traveled to New York to receive care at The Rusk Institute. Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025 Abigail Folger, the coffee heiress murdered by Charles Manson’s cult members. Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025 Mia Wasikowska plays Edith, an heiress who marries a seductive baron, Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), and moves into his enormous, decaying mansion — which is also inhabited by Thomas' enigmatic sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain). Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heiress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heiress. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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

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