- Dictionary
- Word comparison: heir apparent vs. heir presumptive
heir apparent vs. heir presumptive
noun
plural
heirs apparentan 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
plural
heirs presumptivea person who is expected to be the heir but whose expectations may be canceled by the birth of a nearer heir.