inheritor
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of inheritor
First recorded in 1400–50, inheritor is from the late Middle English word enheritour, enheriter. See inherit, -or 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The search for an Obama inheritor isn’t totally new.
From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026
When Mark Walter sold the Lakers last week, it touched off an unexpected side battle: the handpicked inheritor of Jerry Buss’ franchise vs. five of her siblings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
“CP3 is the inheritor of the primary and founding mission of DHS — to prevent terrorism,” Braniff wrote on LinkedIn when he announced his resignation.
From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2025
Thornton Wilder, whose “Our Town” is the most famous dramatic inheritor of Winesburg’s legacy, cautioned in his stage directions that the play “should be performed without sentimentality or ponderousness — simply, dryly and sincerely.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2024
“I'm my father’s son, remember? I’m the inheritor of the dynasty. Number one on our catechism: Treat the son as you would the father, because one day the son will be the father.”
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
