presumptive heir

American  

noun

Law.

1. heir presumptive.

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Etymology

Origin of presumptive heir

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

JD Vance, the presumptive heir to the throne is laying low, while Elon “Husky Musky” Musk is out front, whipping supporters into a continued angry frenzy while those celebrating Trump’s brand of populism are crashing hard into the wall of reality.

From Salon

You'll recall that back in 2015, McCarthy was the presumptive heir to Speaker John Boehner — who was essentially forced out by the right-wing fringe — but shot off his mouth in spectacularly dumb fashion, earning the ire of the House Freedom Caucus.

From Salon

King Viserys Targaryen’s younger brother and presumptive heir — or so he believes.

From Los Angeles Times

Historians determined that the shield once belonged to Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the presumptive heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, whose assassination by a Serbian nationalist in 1914 set off World War I.

From New York Times

His third wife bore a son, Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, who is believed to live near the king in Germany and is the presumptive heir to the throne.

From Los Angeles Times