heiress

noun

heir·​ess ˈer-əs How to pronounce heiress (audio)
Synonyms of heiressnext
: a woman who is an heir especially to great wealth

Examples of heiress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Founded in 2017 by Alice Walton, a prominent philanthropist and heiress to the Walmart fortune, the Art Bridges Foundation’s mission is to expand access to American art across all regions of the United States. — News Desk, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026 The backstory La Playa was built in 1905 by landscape painter Chris Jorgensen (he's known for his work depicting California landscapes; a number of his paintings are displayed at the property) for his wife, chocolate heiress Angela Ghirardelli. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026 Other high-profile guests included West Side Story Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, photographer Hunter Abrams, heiress and entrepreneur Hannah Bronfman, and creative consultant Brooke Wise. — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 30 July 2026 The suburban community has attracted billionaires, CEOs, professional athletes, and business moguls, with residents of Bradbury Estates including In-N-Out heiress Lynsi Snyder and MLB Hall of Famer Adrián Beltré. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for heiress

Word History

Etymology

heir entry 1 + -ess

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heiress was in 1607

Phrases Containing heiress

Rhymes for heiress

See All Rhymes for heiress

Browse Nearby Words

heirdom
heiress
heiress apparent
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Cite this Entry

“Heiress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heiress. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

heiress

noun
heir·​ess ˈar-əs How to pronounce heiress (audio)
ˈer-
: a girl or woman who is an heir

More from Merriam-Webster on heiress

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for heiress

Nglish: Translation of heiress for Spanish Speakers

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