heir apparent
Americannoun
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heirs apparent
plural
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an heir whose right is indefeasible, provided they survive their ancestor.
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a person whose succession to a position appears certain.
His popularity makes him the chief 's heir apparent.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of heir apparent
First recorded in 1325–75 Middle English
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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.
The Royal Family reserves the Prince of Wales title for the heir apparent to the British throne, in a centuries-old tradition.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
Her departure followed a string of other exits, including former chief operating officer Brad Lightcap and Fidji Simo, once seen as the heir apparent to CEO Sam Altman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Rams rookie Ty Simpson says is doing all he can to speed up his development as Matthew Stafford’s heir apparent at starting quarterback.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Then, the hosts discuss succession at JPMorgan now that CEO Jamie Dimon’s latest heir apparent, Marianne Lake, has left the company.
From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2026
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.
