Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged

Visual
ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Spell It!
Word Central

heir

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

heir

Main Entry:: ¹heir
Pronunciation:: \ˈer\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French eir, heir, from Latin hered-, heres; akin to Greek chēros bereaved
Date:: 13th century

1 : one who inherits or is entitled to inherit property 2 : one who inherits or is entitled to succeed to a hereditary rank, title, or office <heir to the throne> 3 : one who receives or is entitled to receive some endowment or quality from a parent or predecessor

— heir·less

Listen to the pronunciation of heirless

\-ləs\ adjective

— heir·ship

Listen to the pronunciation of heirship

\-ˌship\ noun

Learn more about "heir" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "heir" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols