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Synonyms

heir apparent

American  
[air uh-pair-uhnt, uh-par-] / ˈɛər əˈpɛər ənt, əˈpær- /

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 British  

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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • heir apparency noun

Etymology

Origin of heir apparent

First recorded in 1325–75 Middle English

Compare meaning

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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.

Particular attention will also be placed on the whereabouts of Kim's teenage daughter Ju Ae, who has emerged as North Korea's heir apparent, according to Seoul's national intelligence service.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

He then spent two decades as the heir apparent before rising to power in 1994.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

New England’s Drake Maye, 23, was also the No. 3 in his draft class two years ago, becoming the heir apparent to Brady.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026

On paper, Greene has a lot going for her a Trump’s heir apparent, and she likely will get checkbooks flinging open.

From Salon • Oct. 6, 2025

The new heir apparent soon had an opportunity to endear himself to the Athenians.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.