heir

American  

[air] / ɛər /

noun

1. a person who inherits or has a right of inheritance in the property of another following the latter's death.

2. Law.

   1. (in common law) a person who inherits all the property of a deceased person, as by descent, relationship, will, or legal process.

   2. Civil Law. a person who legally succeeds to the place of a deceased person and assumes the rights and obligations of the deceased, as the liabilities for debts or the possessory rights to property.

3. a person who inherits or is entitled to inherit the rank, title, position, etc., of another.

4. a person or group considered as inheriting the tradition, talent, etc., of a predecessor.

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verb (used with object)

1. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to inherit; succeed to.

heir British  

/ ɛə /

noun

1. civil law the person legally succeeding to all property of a deceased person, irrespective of whether such person died testate or intestate, and upon whom devolves as well as the rights the duties and liabilities attached to the estate

2. any person or thing that carries on some tradition, circumstance, etc, from a forerunner

3. an archaic word for offspring

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Other Word Forms

• heirless adjective

Etymology

Origin of heir

1225–75; Middle English eir, heir < Old French < Latin hērēd- (stem of hērēs ); akin to Greek chêros bereaved

Example Sentences

Any prospective heirs will then have to rely on their own skills to build their finances, rather than relying on a third party.

From MarketWatch

If all heirs disclaim, does the trust remain responsible for the property until it is sold, or would it revert to the timeshare company?

From MarketWatch

I’m not going to sell my voice for my heirs.

From The Wall Street Journal

More good news: In most cases, heirs do not owe federal tax on inheritances.

From MarketWatch

North Korea released an image on Thursday of leader Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter firing a pistol, weeks after photos showed her shooting a rifle — once again stoking speculation she is being groomed as heir.

From Barron's

Related Words

• beneficiary
• inheritor
• scion
• successor