heir

[ air ]

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

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

heir

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈheirless, adjective

Other Words From

• heirless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heir¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of heir¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin hērēs; related to Greek khēros bereaved

Example Sentences

Andy Jassy is the likely heir apparent to Jeff BezosBezos, who turned 57 last month, set up the transition to Jassy last summer, when the company announced that one of his possible successors, Jeff Wilke, would soon retire.

From Washington Post

The most logical heir, Jeff Wilke, beat Bezos to the door, announcing his retirement last year.

From Fortune

Bubbles also change rapidly— heir walls approach the speed of light as they fly outward—and feature quantum mechanical randomness and waviness.

From Nautilus

Junior guard Eric Ayala entered the season as the heir apparent to Cowan because he already had experience at that spot from when Coach Mark Turgeon wanted Cowan to play off the ball.

From Washington Post

Prince Charles, heir apparent to the British crown, has asked the world’s CEOs to guarantee the rights of nature in capitalism.

From Quartz

By allowing him to live, Marshal avoided the shame of killing an unarmed heir-apparent.

From The Daily Beast

The heir to a tightrope walking family has tried some crazy stunts in his day.

From The Daily Beast

Phew, he could have sex too, so an heir for Downton was assured.

From The Daily Beast

Regardless, his turn as wealthy heir/sociopath John du Pont is never less than utterly transfixing and unsettling.

From The Daily Beast

Well, he could always ask Prince Andrew how things work out for the spare heir who loses his way.

From The Daily Beast

The heir apparent and his brothers were cowering in fear, afraid to strike, yet hoping that others would strike for them.

From Project Gutenberg

He is a hypochondriac now and would keep a close watch on his heir's health and habits; you may be sure of that.

From Project Gutenberg

In some states he becomes the heir of the adopted parent like a natural child, with some limitations.

From Project Gutenberg

The heir apparent, a boy of nine years old, is affianced to the daughter of a neighbouring king.

From Project Gutenberg

Two minutes suffice for changing teams at the “Talbot,” and off that heir of the coaching age goes again.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beneficiary
• inheritor
• scion
• successor