heir apparent
noun
plural heirs apparent
1
: an heir whose right to an inheritance cannot be voided or undone except by exclusion under a valid will if the heir survives the ancestor
2
3
: one whose succession especially to a position or role appears certain under existing circumstances
Examples of heir apparent in a Sentence
The coach named her assistant as her heir apparent.
Recent Examples on the Web
But with Bain off the board, the Chiefs decide to find Travis Kelce’s heir apparent in Sadiq. —
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026 As second-in-command, Vance has long been seen as the heir apparent to Trump, underscored by early 2028 polling. —Julia Mueller, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2026 Strahl was expected to be the heir apparent to Spartans star Trey Augustine, who led Michigan State to the past three Big Ten titles. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026 Majma-ul-Bahrain (1657) Majma-ul-Bahrain (The Mingling of the Two Oceans) is a philosophical treatise composed in Persian by Dara Shikoh, eldest son of Shah Jahan and heir apparent to the Mughal throne. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heir apparent
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026 As second-in-command, Vance has long been seen as the heir apparent to Trump, underscored by early 2028 polling. —Julia Mueller, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2026 Strahl was expected to be the heir apparent to Spartans star Trey Augustine, who led Michigan State to the past three Big Ten titles. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026 Majma-ul-Bahrain (1657) Majma-ul-Bahrain (The Mingling of the Two Oceans) is a philosophical treatise composed in Persian by Dara Shikoh, eldest son of Shah Jahan and heir apparent to the Mughal throne. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heir apparent
Cite this Entry
“Heir apparent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/heir%20apparent. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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