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

Other Word Forms

• heirless 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

Insurance insiders asked how an appointment of an heir apparent could fall apart days before he was set to enter the building.

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You could also create a solid estate plan for heirs that would reduce any tax liabilities they may have later in life.

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Unlike traditional accounts, if heirs cannot access the keys, the assets are unrecoverable.

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Estée Lauder heir Leonard A Lauder made it part of his private collection in 1985, where it was displayed in his Fifth Avenue home in New York.

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They share the night and part ways in the a.m.—only to discover, quite awkwardly, that Henri is the heir to the Cassell grapes.

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Related Words

• beneficiary 
• inheritor 
• scion 
• successor