Definition of: heir

(âr) noun
1. Law One who on the death of another becomes entitled by operation of law to succeed to the deceased person's estate, as an estate of inheritance: also heir at law.
2. In states and countries which have adopted the civil law, all persons called to the succession.
3. Anyone inheriting from a deceased person.
4. One who or that which succeeds to any qualities of another by reason of community of origin, or inherits anything by transmission.
5. Obs. Offspring. ♦ Homophone: air. [<OF <L heres]
—heir′ess noun fem.
—heir′less adjective