heir
pronunciation
How to pronounce heir in British English:
UK [eə(r)]
How to pronounce heir in American English:
US [er]
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- Noun:
- a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another
- a person who inherits some title or office
Word Origin
- heir (n.)
- c. 1300, from Anglo-French heir, Old French oir "heir, successor," from Latin heredem (nominative heres) "heir, heiress" (see heredity). Heir apparent (late 14c.) has the French order of noun-adjective, though it was not originally so written in English. It is the heir of one still alive whose right is clear. After death the heir apparent becomes the heir-at-law.
Antonym
Example
- 1. This would suggest that the heir apparent is short .
- 2. James murdoch , until recently the most plausible heir , belongs to the second news corporation .
- 3. Mr obama regards himself their heir .
- 4. We need the heir of a major corporation to dissolve his father 's empire .
- 5. King abdullah appointed his stepbrother prince sultan bin abdulaziz as heir .