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

Example Sentences

AIG is paying him $2.7 million under a “mutual agreement” that he forfeit a coveted role as its heir apparent, according to securities filings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 1994, he played a pivotal role in getting Tony Blair elected as party leader - crucially backing him over Gordon Brown, who had been seen as the heir apparent.

Read more on BBC

Ferguson was quiet the first quarter, but in the second he got a chance to show why the Rams selected him to be the heir apparent to veteran tight end Tyler Higbee.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In 2023 the Rams drafted Stetson Bennett in the fourth round, but the third-year pro is not regarded as the heir apparent.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crown prince