Meaning & use
heirs
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“heirs” is a form of “heir”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplurallegal
People who have a legal right to receive someone's money, property or title after that person dies.
Grammar: Plural of heir; usually used with to: heirs to the estate.
Patterns
- heirs to something
- heirs of someone
The heirs divided the farm after their father died.
Both sons were named as heirs in the will.
The family fought in court over who the rightful heirs were.
nounpluralfigurative
People who continue the work, ideas or position of a famous earlier person or group.
Grammar: Usually figurative, with to.
Patterns
- heirs to a tradition
The young musicians see themselves as heirs to the jazz tradition.
The students are the heirs of a long scientific tradition.
Common combinations
- rightful heirs
- The court named the rightful heirs.
- legal heirs
- His legal heirs inherited the house.
- heirs to the throne
- Both princes are heirs to the throne.
- surviving heirs
- The surviving heirs agreed to sell.
- sole heirs
- The two daughters were the sole heirs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- inheritors
- Inheritors is a more general word and does not suggest legal rank.
- successors
- Successors take over a position or job, while heirs receive property or titles.
- beneficiaries
- Beneficiaries receive anything from a will or trust, and need not be family.
- descendants
- Descendants are family members born later, but they do not necessarily inherit anything.
Opposites
Word family
- heir noun
- One person who inherits.
- heiress noun
- A woman who inherits.
- inherit verb
- To receive property or traits.
- inheritance noun
- Property or money received after a death.
- heirloom noun
- A valued object passed down in a family.
Commonly confused: heirs or airs? heirs or errs?
heirs vs airs
Airs sounds the same but refers to affected, snobbish behavior or to melodies.
heirs vs errs
Errs is the verb meaning makes a mistake, and is also pronounced similarly.
Practice
After the owner died, his three children became the ____ of the estate.
Choose one answer.
Heirs are people who inherit. Airs and errs sound similar but have unrelated meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “heirs”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.