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
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
Charlotte Moore Charlotte Moore was viewed by some as the heir apparent to Davie’s predecessor Tony Hall, and it was expected that the former BBC content boss would become DG in 2020 after Hall stepped down.
—
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Christine Pelosi, who until Monday was considered her mother’s likely heir apparent on Capitol Hill, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2025
But with many Detroiters feeling pretty good about the city, and — as Kinloch pointed out near the end of the campaign — Detroiters who feel left out are less likely to vote, Sheffield's strategy to cast herself as the heir apparent to Duggan was more persuasive.
—M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Rafael Marchán has never played more than 42 games in a season, and although Philadelphia's farm system is strong on the whole, there's no heir apparent behind the plate that's close to making a major league debut.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heir apparent
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Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Christine Pelosi, who until Monday was considered her mother’s likely heir apparent on Capitol Hill, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2025
But with many Detroiters feeling pretty good about the city, and — as Kinloch pointed out near the end of the campaign — Detroiters who feel left out are less likely to vote, Sheffield's strategy to cast herself as the heir apparent to Duggan was more persuasive.
—M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Rafael Marchán has never played more than 42 games in a season, and although Philadelphia's farm system is strong on the whole, there's no heir apparent behind the plate that's close to making a major league debut.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heir apparent
Cite this Entry
“Heir apparent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heir%20apparent. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
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