heir

noun

ˈer How to pronounce heir (audio)
Definition of heirnext
as in inheritor
a person who has the right to inherit property upon his death, Mr. Parkworth's property was divided evenly among his heirs, four sons and three daughters

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of heir This is the case in Norway and in England, where Princess Anne and her heirs are destined to be at the bottom of the line of succession to the British throne. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 20 Aug. 2026 At that point, the home is often sold to pay off the balance, and anything left over belongs to you or your heirs. — Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026 Rebecca swings into action by calling Pinter’s CEO, Elaine (Helen Schlesinger), the heir to the family business. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026 The act, put into place when Prince William and Kate Middleton were expecting their first child, Prince George, ended male-preference primogeniture, which put male heirs above their female siblings in the line of succession. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heir
  1. inheritor
  2. legatee
  3. heiress
  4. descendant
Noun
  • The hope behind the request was that the proud inheritor of the Byzantine empire could escape its associations with a pretty derpy American bird.
    — Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • Another challenge that may result is leaving large tax liabilities for future generations, particularly if the inheritors receive such funds during their peak earning years.
    — Monish Verma, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of inheritor
Noun
  • The old immigrants are likely to remain—in the manner of the occasional Wasp legatee (Wagner, Lindsay) who poked in during the buoyant sixties—more visitors to wars over civic power than victors in them.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Trump and allies, meanwhile, often cast him as legatee of Reagan.
    — David Jackson, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2024
Definition of legatee
Noun
  • Reflecting on her shift away from competitive team sports, the football heiress emphasized how physical activity shaped her self-image and mental resilience.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Kushner and Iger pivoting to Los Angeles reshapes the bidding and potentially clears the path for Walton Laurie, a Walmart heiress who brings deep pockets and a local flavor to the Vegas process.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of heiress
Noun
  • The group located what appeared to be some foundational stones of a building where a descendant of the homesteaders said the blacksmith shop once stood.
    — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Eventually, Moses’ great-granddaughter, Nikki, will choose Easy, Pal O Mine’s direct descendant, as her legacy mount.
    — Deborah Johnson, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of descendant

Phrases Containing heir

Browse Nearby Words

heinousness
heir
heir apparent
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Cite this Entry

“Heir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heir. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heir

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heir

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