heir apparent
noun
plural heirs apparent
1
: an heir whose right to an inheritance is indefeasible except by exclusion under a valid will if he or she 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
The son of real estate developer Fred Trump, Donald graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and soon became his father’s heir apparent and the president of the family business.
—
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2024
With fewer than ninety days until the election, the point of the anecdote was supposed to be about Harris—his heir apparent and handpicked successor.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2024
Namal Rajapaksa, the heir apparent to the once-powerful Rajapaksa clan, is also contesting.
—Krishan Francis, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Sep. 2024
Once upon a time, Sanchez was the fifth pick in the 2009 draft by the New York Jets, the heir apparent to franchise icon Joe Namath.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heir apparent 
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Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2024
With fewer than ninety days until the election, the point of the anecdote was supposed to be about Harris—his heir apparent and handpicked successor.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2024
Namal Rajapaksa, the heir apparent to the once-powerful Rajapaksa clan, is also contesting.
—Krishan Francis, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Sep. 2024
Once upon a time, Sanchez was the fifth pick in the 2009 draft by the New York Jets, the heir apparent to franchise icon Joe Namath.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heir apparent
Dictionary Entries Near heir apparent
Cite this Entry
“Heir apparent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heir%20apparent. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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