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
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.
Conchita is Lady Brightlingsea, heroine to a wave of young American heiresses. Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025 One such effort is the Vaccine Integrity Project, which is being coordinated by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota and supported by an unrestricted grant from Walmart heiress Christy Walton. Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 30 June 2025 Family ties Among the Pardee sisters born in New Haven, Conn., much is known about Sarah—heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 22 June 2025 Police responded to reports that the former heiress had pushed an officer in downtown Charleston. Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 21 June 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 8 Jul. 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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