(usually monarchy) Someone who will definitely inherit if surviving the one whose property is to be inherited.

(law) In the law of inheritance, an heir who is legally entitled to inherit the property of a person who has died, even though that heir is only distantly related to the deceased, and therefore has no reason to feel bereaved over the death.

(law) Synonym of heir-at-law

(law) A person who, under the laws of a particular jurisdiction, can not be disinherited, even by a will.

(law) One whose right to inherit as heir is determined by customary modes of descent, such as gavelkind.

(Scotland, law) A proceeding before a jury to determine the heir of a deceased person.

(law) Alternative spelling of heir-at-law

plural of heir-loom

An old variation on heirloom.

(law) A person who would likely stand to inherit under a will, except that the testator did not know of the party or of the relationship at the time the will was written.