heir apparent
Americannoun
-
an heir whose right is indefeasible, provided they survive their ancestor.
-
a person whose succession to a position appears certain.
His popularity makes him the chief 's heir apparent.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of heir apparent
First recorded in 1325–75 Middle English
Compare meaning
How does heir-apparent compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
Haftar, 82, and his sons -- including Saddam, his heir apparent -- will attend the display of firepower on May 19, along with foreign and Libyan officials.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
John Ternus, the long-rumored heir apparent, is stepping in.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026
That’s no knock on Simpson, a charming and mature Tennessee native who started 15 games for Alabama before the Rams made him the heir apparent to Matthew Stafford.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026
Instead of adding a player who could be an immediate contributor to their Super Bowl aspirations, the Rams drafted Matthew Stafford heir apparent Ty Simpson.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026
In the four years since Mills had joined the Rad Lab, he had emerged as Ernest’s heir apparent.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
