# heir apparent

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. Someone who will definitely inherit if surviving the one whose property is to be inherited.

## Etymology
From Middle English heier apparaunt, a calque translation of Middle French héritier apparent, hence the unusual order of adjective following noun.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/heir-apparent