Word
heiress
US/ˈɛɹəs/
UK/ˈeəɹɛs/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a woman or girl who will receive a lot of money or property when someone dies. Usually, this person is a member of a very wealthy family.
n. a female successor who inherits or is legally entitled to inherit a significant fortune or title.
Examples
“The young heiress inherited her grandfather's massive shipping company.”
“As the sole heiress to the tech empire, she spent years learning the business before taking over the board.”
“The novel explores the social pressures faced by a nineteenth-century heiress whose vast dowry made her the target of several opportunistic suitors.”
Examples
simple
“The young heiress inherited her grandfather's massive shipping company.”
contextual
“As the sole heiress to the tech empire, she spent years learning the business before taking over the board.”
complex
“The novel explores the social pressures faced by a nineteenth-century heiress whose vast dowry made her the target of several opportunistic suitors.”
Usage
The feminine form of 'heir'; while 'heir' is increasingly used as a gender-neutral term, 'heiress' remains common in journalistic and literary contexts.
Real-World Examples
“She was “hardly the glamorous heiress as portrayed,” Thangaraj said.” Etymology
From heir + -ess.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/heiress