heir

[air]

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.

verb (used with object)

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

heir

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• heirless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heir¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of heir¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin hērēs; related to Greek khēros bereaved

Example Sentences

Parts of the 60-room building date from the 1420s, but both direct heirs were killed in World War One and the last family members moved out in the 1920s.

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

Technically the privy council is not covered by the lese majeste law, which states that it is an offence to defame only the king, queen, heir to the throne or anyone acting as regent.

From BBC

How much longer will Black Americans and the heirs to other great freedom struggles keep sacrificing for a country that is choosing self-destruction — for a nation accelerating toward fascism?

From Salon

Kim Yo Jong’s pedigree and political rise have fueled speculation that she might one day be an heir to her older brother.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beneficiary 
• inheritor 
• scion 
• successor