heir apparent
noun
(pl. heirs apparent)
1- an heir whose claim cannot be set aside by the birth of another heir当然继承人（其继承权不会因另一继承人的诞生而失效）。比较 HEIR PRESUMPTIVE.
1.1
- figurative a person who is most likely to succeed to the place of another〈喻〉（职位的）当然继承者（指最有可能继承某人职位的人）。