heir presumptive

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noun,plural heirs presumptive.
  1. a person who is expected to be the heir but whose expectations may be canceled by the birth of a nearer heir.

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Origin of heir presumptive

1
First recorded in 1620–30

Words Nearby heir presumptive

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How to use heir presumptive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for heir presumptive

heir presumptive

noun
  1. property law a person who expects to succeed to an estate but whose right may be defeated by the birth of one nearer in blood to the ancestor: Compare heir apparent

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012