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 The company found that West did, in fact, have several legal heirs, according to the affidavit. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 The home takeover came to light when a real estate company bought the property from West’s heirs months later, the arrest affidavit said. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026 The federal estate tax, which is paid by the estate rather than heirs, carries a top marginal rate of 40%, with a $15 million basic exclusion amount for people who die in 2026, according to the IRS. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 As heir to the throne, William plays a key part in hosting state visits on behalf of his father, often with Princess Kate by his side. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heir
  1. inheritor
  2. legatee
  3. heiress
  4. descendant
Noun
  • The bodybuilders in Mustapha’s focus are the inheritors of that model, using their Hulk-like muscles to exert temporary power over homegrown overlords who keep them in a kind of class subjugation.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Young and middle-aged inheritors are more digitally savvy and activism-oriented than older generations.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Sep. 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
  • Wallace plays Mia, a spoiled heiress who is sent by her grandfather to Palermo, Sicily, without money or her customary luxuries, to work as a real estate agent in the family business.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • At her 2016 parole hearing, Krenwinkel described repeatedly stabbing 26-year-old coffee heiress Folger.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of heiress
Noun
  • Harington who starred as Jon Snow in GOT, is a real-life descendant of Catesby, and lead a cast also including Liv Tyler (The Lord of the Rings), Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) and Peter Mullan (My Name is Joe).
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Roku Channel has greenlit Scarlett Holmes, a limited series that will star Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars, 2024’s F*** Marry Kill) as a descendant of Sherlock Holmes who has inherited the family’s observational powers.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of descendant

Phrases Containing heir

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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 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heir

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heir

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