heiress

[ air-is ]

noun

1. a woman who inherits or has a right of inheritance, especially a woman who has inherited or will inherit considerable wealth.

heiress

/ ˈɛərɪs /

noun

1. a woman who inherits or expects to inherit great wealth
2. property law a female heir

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of heiress¹

First recorded in 1650–60; heir + -ess

Example Sentences

And while she, as heiress to the Post Cereal fortune, was not a “robber baron” in the traditional sense of the word, that’s the vibe he likes.

From Salon

Surely if a fabulously wealthy heiress like Tanya died under mysterious circumstances after traveling aboard a yacht where numerous people were shot and killed, it would attract media attention and probably spawn a million podcasts.

From Los Angeles Times

The reference hardly seems accidental: Netflix was criticized for paying fake heiress Anna Sorokin a hefty fee for the rights to adapt her life story into “Inventing Anna.”

From Los Angeles Times

The newspaper heiress, who was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army and later joined them as “Tania,” was the recipient of two presidential actions.

From Los Angeles Times

‘Bling Empire’ billionaire heiress Anna Shay, known for her sharp wit, unexpectedly died Monday after suffering a stroke.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• holder
• landowner
• partner
• proprietor