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
The departure of Fidji Simo, Sam Altman’s heir apparent, prompted a reshuffle of responsibilities among the CEO’s top deputies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
So call it a quiet, workmanlike beginning for the 13th player taken in the NFL draft, a quarterback the Rams ostensibly chose to become Matthew Stafford’s heir apparent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 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
Instead the Fowl heir apparent crossed to the monitor wall and followed developments from there.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
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.
