Meanings
nounheir (plural heirs)
plural heirs · alternative obsolete heire
- Someone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another.
My brother is the heir to our childhood house and yet has no interest in it.
4 more examples
I am my father's heir and only son.
c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]As to eleemoſynary corporations, by the dotation the founder and his heirs are of common right the legal viſitors, to ſee that that property is rightly employed, which would otherwiſe have deſcended to the viſitor himſelf: […]
1765, William Blackstone, “Of Corporations”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book I (Of the Rights of Persons), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 469And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir.
1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown AjaxIn ancient Greece, the Spartans developed rules that consolidated property into a narrow class of heirs, while the growing population of people left behind were reclassified as hypomeiones—inferiors.
2023 January 16, Evan Osnos, “The Getty Family’s Trust Issues”, in The New Yorker, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 16 Sep 2023Synonyms: beneficiary, inheritor
- One who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office.
As the heir to the British throne, the Prince of Wales is a very public figure.
2 more examples
Now, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, William, 40, is the Prince of Wales and the heir to the British throne.
2022 September 16, Megan Specia, “Prince William Moves Into the Spotlight as Heir to the Throne”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 Apr 2023Vittorio Emanuele, the Italian throne's last heir, was apprehended in 1978 after a teen died from a gunshot on an exclusive island.
2023 July 4, Lucy Mangan, “The King Who Never Was review – the gripping tale of the first royal to be arrested 'since Marie Antoinette'”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 06 Aug 2023Synonyms: inheritor
- A successor in a role, representing continuity with the predecessor.
And I his heir in misery alone.
1725, Homer, “Book I”, in [Elijah Fenton], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC3 more examples
"I wish we were back in Tenth Street. But so many children came[…]and the Tenth Street house wasn't half big enough; and a dreadful speculative builder built this house and persuaded Austin to buy it. Oh, dear, and here we are among the rich and great; and the steel kings and copper kings and oil kings and their heirs and dauphins.[…]"
1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLCIndia is run by gerontocrats and epigones: grey hairs and groomed heirs.
2013 May 11, “What a waste”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8835, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Jul 2023, page 12Sergeant Schlock has no horse, no armor, and no sword, but even the mightiest Mongol horse-warrior would see in him a fit heir.
2015 February 1, Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary, archived from the original on 14 May 2024Synonyms: aftercomer, succeeder, successor, successour
verbheir (third-person singular simple present heirs, present participle heiring, simple past and past participle heired)
present singular third person heirs · participle present heiring · participle past heired · past heired · alternative obsolete heire
- ambitransitiveTo inherit.
[…] Leonard Houtz & John Myer to be executors to this my last will & testament & lastly my children shall heir equally, one as much as the other.
1950, quoted in Our Garst family in America (page 27)
Synonyms & antonyms
nounSomeone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another.
Similar
nounOne who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office.
Similar
nounA successor in a role, representing continuity with the predecessor.
More synonyms by meaning
nouna person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinhērēs
- Anglo-Normaneir
- Middle Englishheir
- Englishheir
From Middle English heir, from Anglo-Norman eir, heir, from Latin hērēs.
More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek κληρόνομος, κληρονόμος
- κληρόνομος (klērónomos)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- κληρονόμος (klēronómos)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Arabic وَارِث, وَرِيث
- وَارِث (wāriṯ)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- وَرِيث (warīṯ)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- وَارِث (wāriṯ)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- وَارِثَة (wāriṯa)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- وَرِيث (warīṯ)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Basque jaraunsle, oinordeko
- jaraunsleone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- oinordekoone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- oinordeone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Bulgarian насле́дник, насле́дничка
- насле́дник (naslédnik)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- насле́дничка (naslédnička)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- насле́дник (naslédnik)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- насле́дничка (naslédnička)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Catalan hereu, hereu
- hereuone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- hereuone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- hereterone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Chinese Mandarin 儲 /储, 繼承人 /继承人
- 儲 /储 (chǔ, chú)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- 繼承人 /继承人 (jìchéngrén)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- 繼承者 /继承者 (jìchéngzhě)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Czech dědic, dědička
- dědicone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- dědičkaone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- nástupcesuccessor in a role
- nástupkyněsuccessor in a role
- dědicone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- dědičkaone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Danish arving
- arvingone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Dutch opvolger, opvolgster
- opvolgerone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- opvolgsterone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- opvolgersuccessor in a role
- opvolgstersuccessor in a role
- erfgenaamone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- erfgenameone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Esperanto heredanto
- heredantoone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Estonian pärija
- pärijaone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Finnish perillinen, vallanperijä
- perillinenone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- vallanperijäone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- kruununperillinenone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- seuraajasuccessor in a role
- manttelinperijäsuccessor in a role
- perillinenone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- perijäone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
French héritier, héritière
- héritierone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- héritièreone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- héritiersuccessor in a role
- héritièresuccessor in a role
- successeursuccessor in a role
- héritierone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- héritièreone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- successeurone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- successeuseone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- successriceone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
German Thronerbe, Erbe
- Thronerbeone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- Erbeone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- Erbinone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Greek κληρονόμος, διάδοχος
- κληρονόμος (klironómos)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- διάδοχος (diádochos)successor in a role
- κληρονόμος (klironómos)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Hebrew יוֹרֵשׁ, יורשת
- יוֹרֵשׁ (yorésh)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- יורשתone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- יוֹרֵשׁ (yorésh)successor in a role
- יורשתsuccessor in a role
- יוֹרֵשׁ (yorésh)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- יורשתone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Hindi उत्तराधिकारी, उत्तराधिकारी
- उत्तराधिकारी (uttarādhikārī)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- उत्तराधिकारी (uttarādhikārī)successor in a role
- उत्तराधिकारी (uttarādhikārī)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Hungarian örökös, örökös
- örökösone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- örökössuccessor in a role
- örökösone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Icelandic erfingi
- erfingione who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Indonesian pewaris
- pewarisone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Irish oidhre, beangán
- oidhreone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- beangánone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- oidhreone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- beangánone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Italian erede, erede
- eredeone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- eredesuccessor in a role
- successoresuccessor in a role
- eredeone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- ereditieraone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Japanese 継承者, 継承者
- 継承者 (keishōsha)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- 継承者 (keishōsha)successor in a role
- 相続人 (sōzokunin)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- 跡取り (atotori)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- 継承者 (keishōsha)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Korean 계승자, 상속인
- 계승자 (gyeseungja)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- 상속인 (sangsogin)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- 계승자 (gyeseungja)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Latin hērēs
- hērēsone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Latvian mantinieks, mantiniece
- mantinieksone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- mantinieceone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Lithuanian įpėdinis, paveldėtojas
- įpėdinisone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- paveldėtojasone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- paveldėtojaone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Malay pewaris, waris
- pewarisone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- warisone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Māori kaiwhakakapi, whākapi
- kaiwhakakapione who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- whākapione who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- kawasuccessor in a role
- whākapisuccessor in a role
- kaiwhakakapisuccessor in a role
- whākapione who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- kaiwhakakapione who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- kairīwhione who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Norwegian Bokmål arving
- arvingone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Persian وارث
- وارث (vâres)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Polish następca, następczyni
- następcaone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- następczynione who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- sukcesorone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- sukcesorkaone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- następcasuccessor in a role
- następczynisuccessor in a role
- spadkobiercaone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- spadkobierczynione who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- dziedzicone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- dziedziczkaone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- sukcesorone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- sukcesorkaone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Portuguese herdeiro, sucessor
- herdeiroone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- sucessorsuccessor in a role
- herdeirosuccessor in a role
- herdeiroone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Romanian moștenitor, moștenitoare
- moștenitorone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- moștenitoareone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- succesorsuccessor in a role
- succesoaresuccessor in a role
- moștenitorsuccessor in a role
- moștenitoaresuccessor in a role
- moștenitorone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- moștenitoareone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Russian прее́мник, прее́мница
- прее́мник (prejémnik)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- прее́мница (prejémnica)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- прее́мник (prejémnik)successor in a role
- прее́мница (prejémnica)successor in a role
- насле́дник (naslédnik)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- насле́дница (naslédnica)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Scottish Gaelic oighre, oighre
- oighreone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- oighreone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Slovak dedič, dedička
- dedičone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- dedičkaone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- nástupcasuccessor in a role
- nástupkyňasuccessor in a role
- dedičone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- dedičkaone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Spanish heredero, sucesor
- herederoone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- sucesorsuccessor in a role
- herederoone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- cabaleroone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Swahili mrithi, mrithi
- mrithione who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- mrithione who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Swedish arvinge, arvtagare
- arvingeone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- arvtagareone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- arvingeone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- arvtagerskaone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Tagalog tagapagmana
- tagapagmanaone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Thai รัชทายาท, ผู้สืบทอด
- รัชทายาท (rát-chá-taa-yâat)one who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- ผู้สืบทอดsuccessor in a role
- ทายาท (taa-yâat)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Turkish vâris, mirasçı
- vârisone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- mirasçıone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Ukrainian спадкоє́мець, спадкоє́миця
- спадкоє́мець (spadkojémecʹ)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- спадкоє́миця (spadkojémycja)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- наслі́дник (naslídnyk)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- наслі́дниця (naslídnycja)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Urdu وارث
- وارث (vāris)one who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Vietnamese người thừa kế
- người thừa kếone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Welsh aer, aerod
- aerone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- aerodone who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office
- etifeddone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- aerone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
- aerodone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with heir
aretherewherecarecompareairsharehairmaryrepairfairbearwearrarelayerpairawareprepareprayermayorterrorPierresparebare
All rhymes →Sounds the same
airAyrhair (h-dropping)eyreare (“unit of measurement”)err (one pronunciation)e'er (US)ear (cheer–chair merger)err (fair–fur merger)airAyrhair (h-dropping)eyreare (“unit of measurement”)err (one pronunciation)e'er (US)ear (cheer–chair merger)err (fair–fur merger)
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
heir. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heir
MLA
“heir.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heir. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heir,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heir.
Source: heir on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.