heir apparent vs. heir presumptive
[air uh-pair-uhnt, uh-par-]
/ ˈɛər əˈpɛər ənt, əˈpær- /
noun
plural
heirs apparent-
an 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.
