heir apparent

[air uh-pair-uhnt, uh-par-]

noun

plural

heirs apparent 

1. an heir whose right is indefeasible, provided they survive their ancestor.

2. a person whose succession to a position appears certain.

   His popularity makes him the chief 's heir apparent.

heir apparent

noun

1. property law a person whose right to succeed to certain property cannot be defeated, provided such person survives his ancestor Compare heir presumptive

Other Word Forms

• heir apparency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heir apparent¹

First recorded in 1325–75 Middle English

Related Words

• crown prince