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heir apparent

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noun, plural heirs apparent.

an heir whose right is indefeasible, provided he or she survives the ancestor.
a person whose succession to a position appears certain: His popularity makes him the chief's heir apparent.

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Origin of heir apparent

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75
Related formsheir apparency, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for heir apparent

Contemporary Examples of heir apparent

Historical Examples of heir apparent

  • The heir-apparent, the late King, admired his talent and relished his society.

    In the Heart of Vosges

    Matilda Betham-Edwards

  • The heir-apparent was privileged to support two, and the third from the king but one.

  • In April, 1502, at the age of ten, Henry became the heir-apparent to the English throne.

    Henry VIII.

    A. F. Pollard

  • That chief was, therefore, brother-in-law to the king, and uncle to the heir-apparent.

    Captain Cook

    W.H.G. Kingston

  • You see it's about time to select an heir-apparent for Brockhurst.

British Dictionary definitions for heir apparent

heir apparent

noun plural heirs apparent

property law a person whose right to succeed to certain property cannot be defeated, provided such person survives his ancestorCompare heir presumptive
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012