inheritor
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of inheritor
First recorded in 1400–50, inheritor is from the late Middle English word enheritour, enheriter. See inherit, -or 2
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 search for an Obama inheritor isn’t totally new.
From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026
When Mark Walter sold the Lakers, it touched off an unexpected side battle: the handpicked inheritor of Jerry Buss’ franchise vs. five of her siblings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
“CP3 is the inheritor of the primary and founding mission of DHS — to prevent terrorism,” Braniff wrote on LinkedIn when he announced his resignation.
From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2025
One of them is dangerously determined to be the sole inheritor of the estate.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025
That day, I felt myself to be the embodiment of African nationalism, the inheritor of Africa’s difficult but noble past and her uncertain future.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
