heiress

noun

heir·​ess ˈer-əs How to pronounce heiress (audio)
Synonyms of heiressnext
: a woman who is an heir especially to great wealth

Examples of heiress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Previously a producer who would partner with the major studios on theatrical film releases, the Oracle heiress decided to go it alone and distribute her own movies. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 When Phoebe Hunt, a documentarian for Tempus Tours, discovers that a real estate heiress who didn’t return from a journey is actually a suspicious woman from Phoebe’s past, Phoebe races to stop history from being rewritten. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026 The heiress was photographed with her stepmother and father at the Gucci fashion show in February 2013. — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026 Reflecting on her shift away from competitive team sports, the football heiress emphasized how physical activity shaped her self-image and mental resilience. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heiress

Word History

Etymology

heir entry 1 + -ess

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heiress was in 1607

Phrases Containing heiress

Rhymes for heiress

See All Rhymes for heiress

Browse Nearby Words

heirdom
heiress
heiress apparent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heiress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heiress. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

heiress

noun
heir·​ess ˈar-əs How to pronounce heiress (audio)
ˈer-
: a girl or woman who is an heir

More from Merriam-Webster on heiress

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for heiress

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