succession

noun

suc·​ces·​sion sək-ˈse-shən 

1

a

: the order in which or the conditions under which one person after another succeeds to a property, dignity, title, or throne

b

: the right of a person or line to succeed

c

: the line having such a right

2

a

: the act or process of following in order : sequence

b(1)

: the act or process of one person's taking the place of another in the enjoyment of or liability for rights or duties or both

(2)

: the act or process of a person's becoming beneficially entitled to a property or property interest of a deceased person

c

: the continuance of corporate personality

d

: unidirectional change in the composition of an ecosystem as the available competing organisms and especially the plants respond to and modify the environment

3

a

: a number of persons or things that follow each other in sequence

b

: a group, type, or series that succeeds or displaces another

successional

sək-ˈse-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

successionally adverb

Examples of succession in a Sentence

As third in the line of succession, she would only become queen if her brothers both died or became ineligible.

Recent Examples on the Web

Morale has plummeted as a succession of mostly temporary leaders have come and gone — the front office filled with political appointees, many of them with little or no training in medicine or public health. — Mike Stobbe, Fortune, 15 July 2026

Japan’s monarchy has for centuries maintained male-only succession, which is on-brand for a deeply patriarchal society where men dominate other spheres of life such as business and politics. — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Hugh Son This will be the first chance that analysts have to directly ask JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon questions about succession planning after the sudden exit of Marianne Lake, who had been considered a top candidate. — Hugh Son,laya Neelakandan,leslie Picker,ritika Shah, CNBC, 14 July 2026

Prince George is an heir to the British throne, falling second in the line of succession after his father. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 14 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin succession-, successio, from succedere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing succession

• in quick/rapid succession
• in succession
• succession duty

Rhymes for succession

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression

Kids Definition

succession

noun

suc·​ces·​sion sək-ˈsesh-ən 

1

: the order, action, or right of succeeding to a throne, title, or property

2

a

: a repeated following of one person or thing after another

b

: a series of one-way changes in the composition of a biological community in which one group of plants or animals is replaced by a different group

successional

-ˈsesh-nəl 

-ən-ᵊl

adjective

Legal Definition

succession

noun

suc·​ces·​sion sək-ˈse-shən 

1

a

: the order in which or the conditions under which one person after another succeeds to a property, dignity, position, title, or throne

the sequence of succession to the presidency

b

: the right of a person or line of ancestry to succeed

c

: the line of ancestry having such a right

2

a

: the act or process of following in order

b

: the act or process of one person's taking the place of another in the enjoyment of or liability for rights or duties or both

3

: the act or process by which a person becomes entitled to the property or property interest of a deceased person and especially an intestate : the transmission of the estate of a decedent to his or her heirs, legatees, or devisees

also : the estate of the deceased including assets and liabilities

—used chiefly in the civil law of Louisiana

— intestate succession

: the transmission of property or property interests of a decedent as provided by statute as distinguished from the transfer in accordance with the decedent's will

also : the operation of such statutory provisions in transmitting intestate property

would take the property by intestate succession

in the civil law of Louisiana : property that is not disposed of by will but by operation of statute

who presents himself to claim an intestate succession

—Louisiana Civil Code

— testate succession

: the transmission of property in accordance with a valid will

— vacant succession

in the civil law of Louisiana : an estate that has not been claimed, of which the heirs are unknown, or that has been renounced by all of the heirs

4

a

: the continuance of a corporation's status as a legal person

perpetual corporate succession

b

: the act or process by which one corporation assumes ownership of another

documents…that all aim to prepare your company for its new owner's succession

—Saul Berkowitz

5

: the act or process by which one state takes over or follows upon another and becomes entitled to its rights and position in international law