heir

American  

[air] / ɛər /

noun

1. a person who inherits or has a right of inheritance in the property of another following the latter's death.

2. Law.

   1. (in common law) a person who inherits all the property of a deceased person, as by descent, relationship, will, or legal process.

   2. Civil Law. a person who legally succeeds to the place of a deceased person and assumes the rights and obligations of the deceased, as the liabilities for debts or the possessory rights to property.

3. a person who inherits or is entitled to inherit the rank, title, position, etc., of another.

4. a person or group considered as inheriting the tradition, talent, etc., of a predecessor.

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verb (used with object)

1. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to inherit; succeed to.

heir British  

/ ɛə /

noun

1. civil law the person legally succeeding to all property of a deceased person, irrespective of whether such person died testate or intestate, and upon whom devolves as well as the rights the duties and liabilities attached to the estate

2. any person or thing that carries on some tradition, circumstance, etc, from a forerunner

3. an archaic word for offspring

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Other Word Forms

• heirless adjective

Etymology

Origin of heir

1225–75; Middle English eir, heir < Old French < Latin hērēd- (stem of hērēs ); akin to Greek chêros bereaved

Example Sentences

Andrew was the loud, bullish, outgoing child, said to be the favourite of his mother, while Charles was the thoughtful, introspective, serious older brother, carrying the weight of responsibility as heir.

From BBC

Long overshadowed by his parents and heir to one of Bangladesh's most powerful political dynasties, the country's new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has finally stepped into the spotlight.

From Barron's

However, Jackson's later years would be punctuated by scandal, including revelations of marital infidelity and financial impropriety involving his son and political heir, Jesse Jackson Jr, who served as a congressman from Illinois.

From BBC

"My job and responsibility is to provide good stewardship... Good stewardship includes ensuring a proper transition at Hyatt", said Pritzker, the billionaire heir to the hotel chain's fortune.

From BBC

Is it possible to prevent an heir from spending their inheritance on things to which we are diametrically opposed?

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• beneficiary
• inheritor
• scion
• successor