heir
heirs
If your grandfather leaves his candy factory to you in his will, it means you're the heir to the family candy business, and after your grandfather dies, you will inherit the factory.
When you're named in a will or are legally entitled to inherit something, you're an heir. You can be the heir to someone's money, business, or title; in a monarchy, the king or queen's oldest son is usually the heir to the throne. The word heir isn't pronounced like "hair," but instead has a silent h and sounds like "air."
Definitions of heir
-
a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another
-
types:
- show 4 types...
- hide 4 types...
-
heir apparent
an heir whose right to an inheritance cannot be defeated if that person outlives the ancestor
-
heir-at-law
the person legally entitled to inherit the property of someone who dies intestate
-
heiress, inheritress, inheritrix
a female heir
-
heir presumptive
a person who expects to inherit but whose right can be defeated by the birth of a nearer relative
-
a person who inherits some title or office
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘heir'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
Word Family
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Look up heir for the last time
Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.
