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

An heir apparent to Draymond Green. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 June 2026

Ryan Coogler, especially after the success of Sinners, feels like the most likely heir apparent. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026

There are no elite coaching options on the market right now, but there’s Henderson Silver Knights coach Ryan Craig, who has been treated like the eventual heir apparent for years. — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 15 June 2026

After the disastrous ’24 season, Getz fired White Sox manager Pedro Grifol and hired Rangers bench coach Will Venable, who’d been the heir apparent there to succeed Bruce Bochy. — Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 13 June 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