heir apparent

noun

plural heirs apparent

1

: an heir whose right to an inheritance is indefeasible except by exclusion under a valid will if he or she 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

The son of real estate developer Fred Trump, Donald graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and soon became his father’s heir apparent and the president of the family business. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2024

With fewer than ninety days until the election, the point of the anecdote was supposed to be about Harris—his heir apparent and handpicked successor. —Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2024

Namal Rajapaksa, the heir apparent to the once-powerful Rajapaksa clan, is also contesting. —Krishan Francis, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Sep. 2024

Once upon a time, Sanchez was the fifth pick in the 2009 draft by the New York Jets, the heir apparent to franchise icon Joe Namath. —Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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 heir