The meaning of HEIR is one who receives property from an ancestor : one who is entitled to inherit property. How to use heir in a sentence. HEIR definition: 1. a person who will legally receive money, property, or a title from another person, especially an…. Learn more. HEIR meaning: 1 : a person who has the legal right to receive the property of someone who dies often + to; 2 : a person who has the right to become a king or queen or to claim a title when the person holding it dies Definition of heir noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Aug 27, 2025 · What Is an Heir? An heir legally inherits the estate of someone who dies intestate, lacking a will. Heirs, typically children or close relatives, receive property based on state probate laws. Someone's heir is the person who will inherit their money, property, or title when they die. heir (ɛər) n. 1. a person who inherits or has a right of inheritance in the property of another following the latter's death. 2. a. (in common law) a person who inherits all the property of a decedent, as by relationship or legal process. Oct 31, 2025 · From Middle English heir, from Anglo-Norman eir, heir, from Latin hērēs. My brother is the heir to our childhood house and yet has no interest in it. heir /ɛr/ n. [countable] a person who inherits or has a right to inherit from another person who dies: sole heir to the millionaire's fortune; an heir to the throne. An heir is a person who may legally receive property or assets from a deceased person's estate when there is no will or trust in place; this is called dying intestate, and state laws then determine who the heirs are and how the assets are passed down.