English · Word Candidate

heir

/ˈɛə̯/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: heirs · heiring · heired

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Someone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another.

Noun

My brother is the heir to our childhood house and yet has no interest in it.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

One who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office.

Noun

As the heir to the British throne, the Prince of Wales is a very public figure.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

To inherit.

Verb

[…] 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.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “heir” mean?

Someone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another.

Is “heir” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.