heir

American  

[air] / ɛər /

noun

• heirs
  plural

1. a person who inherits or has a right of inheritance in the property of another following the latter's death.

2. Law.

   1. (in common law) a person who inherits all the property of a deceased person, as by descent, relationship, will, or legal process.

   2. Civil Law. a person who legally succeeds to the place of a deceased person and assumes the rights and obligations of the deceased, as the liabilities for debts or the possessory rights to property.

3. a person who inherits or is entitled to inherit the rank, title, position, etc., of another.

4. a person or group considered as inheriting the tradition, talent, etc., of a predecessor.

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verb (used with object)

1. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to inherit; succeed to.

heir British  

/ ɛə /

noun

1. civil law the person legally succeeding to all property of a deceased person, irrespective of whether such person died testate or intestate, and upon whom devolves as well as the rights the duties and liabilities attached to the estate

2. any person or thing that carries on some tradition, circumstance, etc, from a forerunner

3. an archaic word for offspring

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• heirless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• heirs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of heir

1225–75; Middle English eir, heir < Old French < Latin hērēd- (stem of hērēs ); akin to Greek chêros bereaved

Explanation

If your grandfather leaves his candy factory to you in his will, it means you're the heir to the family candy business, and after your grandfather dies, you will inherit the factory. When you're named in a will or are legally entitled to inherit something, you're an heir. You can be the heir to someone's money, business, or title; in a monarchy, the king or queen's oldest son is usually the heir to the throne. The word heir isn't pronounced like "hair," but instead has a silent h and sounds like "air."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heir heirs

Yet the formidable English army of kinsman Malcolm, rightful heir to murdered King Duncan, approached Dunsinane using branches from Birnam Wood as camouflage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

So call it a quiet, workmanlike beginning for the 13th player taken in the NFL draft, a quarterback the Rams ostensibly chose to become Matthew Stafford’s heir apparent.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

Rams rookie Ty Simpson says is doing all he can to speed up his development as Matthew Stafford’s heir apparent at starting quarterback.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

You can disclaim an inheritance when you are notified that you are an heir.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

One by one, all four princes of the kingdom fell, leaving the king only one heir.

From "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness

Putting a home inside a trust is a common financial planning strategy for those looking to ease the burden on heirs or avoid estate taxes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

If she qualified for Medicaid, there likely won’t be much probate estate available to creditors or heirs.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

In 2004, a private investment group with a stake in Wawa, backed by the McNeil family, the Tylenol heirs, pushed hard to take Wawa public.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

It’s more probable that the financial-services company is looking for confirmation that she has died so they can begin administering her account and, if appropriate, distributing any assets to the rightful beneficiaries or heirs.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

These were the heirs of Bittersteel, and discipline was mother’s milk to them.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Related Words

• beneficiary
• inheritor
• scion
• successor