heir apparent
Crown's guaranteed next
An heir apparent is someone whose right to inherit a title, throne, or position cannot be displaced by the birth of another heir.
The term extends to anyone widely expected to succeed to a role: The VP is the heir apparent to the CEO position.
Unlike an heir presumptive, whose claim can be superseded, an heir apparent's succession is considered certain barring their own death or removal.
- crown princeMale successor to throne
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- successionFollowing in order
- primogenitureEldest inherits all
- crownSovereign's ornamental headpiece
understudy · second in command · future king · monarchy · dauphin · legatee · birthright · blood right · coronation · next in line · waiting in the wings · royal · waiting · firstborn · regent · agnatic succession · lineage · scion
- heirsheirs, coheirs, beneficiary, beneficiaries, successor
- Iberian RoyaltyFerdinand, Isabella, Juan Carlos, Charles I, Alfonso
- Medieval Kingshipcoronation, anointment, crowning, enthronement, regalia
- monarchyking, queen, prince, princess, crown
- royaltyking, queen, prince, princess, kings
- British Royaltyking, queen, prince, princess, crown
heir apparentheir presumptive
Successor who can be displaced
spare · second in line · Prince Harry · also-ran · backup
heir apparentincumbent
Current position holder
disinherited · passed over · predecessor · deposed · lame duck
heir apparentusurper
Illegal power seizer
pretender · claimant · illegitimate heir · false heir · impostor
disappear, apparent, heritage, appearance, transparent, heir, inherit, inheritance, apparently