heir apparent

American  

[air uh-pair-uhnt, uh-par-] / ˈɛər əˈpɛər ənt, əˈpær- /

noun

PLURAL

heirs apparent

1. an heir whose right is indefeasible, provided they survive their ancestor.

2. a person whose succession to a position appears certain.

   His popularity makes him the chief 's heir apparent.

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heir apparent British  

noun

1. property law a person whose right to succeed to certain property cannot be defeated, provided such person survives his ancestor Compare heir presumptive

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Other Word Forms

• heir apparency noun

Etymology

Origin of heir apparent

First recorded in 1325–75 Middle English

Compare meaning

How does heir-apparent compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• heir apparent vs. heir presumptive

Example Sentences

AIG is paying him $2.7 million under a “mutual agreement” that he forfeit a coveted role as its heir apparent, according to securities filings.

From The Wall Street Journal

Insurance insiders asked how an appointment of an heir apparent could fall apart days before he was set to enter the building.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 1994, he played a pivotal role in getting Tony Blair elected as party leader - crucially backing him over Gordon Brown, who had been seen as the heir apparent.

From BBC

Ferguson was quiet the first quarter, but in the second he got a chance to show why the Rams selected him to be the heir apparent to veteran tight end Tyler Higbee.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2023 the Rams drafted Stetson Bennett in the fourth round, but the third-year pro is not regarded as the heir apparent.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crown prince