heir apparent

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR heir apparent ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

heinous, heinrich, heinz, heinz-ehrlich body, heir, heir apparent, heir at law, heir presumptive, heir-at-law, heirdom, heiress

Origin of heir apparent

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75

Related forms

heir apparency, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for heir apparent

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was snubbed by heir-apparent Xi Jinping on her recent visit.
U.S.-China Economies Ties Deepen as Tensions Rise|Daniel Gross|September 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Since then, Lula has continued to push his protégée and heir-apparent in an effort to protect his own legacy.
Brazil's Next Outlaw President|Ian Epstein|October 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The whole correspondence, in truth, brought great discredit, both on the heir-apparent and his advisers.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
Certainly it could not be denied that the heir-apparent was extremely lax in his religious duties.
Istar of Babylon|Margaret Horton Potter

How dared you, rash youth, raise your ire against the heir-apparent?
Mark Gildersleeve|John S. Sauzade
When notice should be given they were to assemble in arms, and declare the Marquis of Exeter heir-apparent to the throne.
History of England from the fall of Wolsey to the death of Elizabeth. Vol. III|James Anthony Froude
We gave a breakfast to the heir-apparent of Lucknow and to sixty people; the utmost number we can accommodate.
Up the Country|Emily Eden

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