heir
Americannoun
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a person who inherits or has a right of inheritance in the property of another following the latter's death.
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Law.
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(in common law) a person who inherits all the property of a deceased person, as by descent, relationship, will, or legal process.
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Civil Law. a person who legally succeeds to the place of a deceased person and assumes the rights and obligations of the deceased, as the liabilities for debts or the possessory rights to property.
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a person who inherits or is entitled to inherit the rank, title, position, etc., of another.
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a person or group considered as inheriting the tradition, talent, etc., of a predecessor.
verb (used with object)
noun
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civil law the person legally succeeding to all property of a deceased person, irrespective of whether such person died testate or intestate, and upon whom devolves as well as the rights the duties and liabilities attached to the estate
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any person or thing that carries on some tradition, circumstance, etc, from a forerunner
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an archaic word for offspring
Other Word Forms
- heirless adjective
Etymology
Origin of heir
1225–75; Middle English eir, heir < Old French < Latin hērēd- (stem of hērēs ); akin to Greek chêros bereaved
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Or maybe you worry that if the attorney exploits your relative and leaves them destitute, the rightful heirs will inherit little.
From MarketWatch
Individuals can also avoid capital-gains taxes if they pass property to an heir after death, or if they choose to borrow against their assets to realize gains instead of selling them.
From Barron's
In December, he anointed Flavio -- a Rio de Janeiro senator -- as his political heir.
From Barron's
Last week Seoul's spy agency briefed lawmakers that it believes Kim has selected his daughter as his heir, and that she was seen giving her opinion on policy matters.
From BBC
While Samson is not necessarily Kohli's heir, he had got India across the line by a hair's breadth in the manner of the India batting legend.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
