An heiress is a girl or woman who will inherit (or has already inherited) a large amount of money, property, or a valuable business, usually from a family member who has died. The word comes from “heir,” meaning someone who receives an inheritance, with the “-ess” ending indicating a female heir.

When a wealthy business owner dies and leaves her fortune to her daughter, that daughter becomes an heiress. Famous historical heiresses include women like Consuelo Vanderbilt, who inherited part of her family's railroad fortune in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, you might read about heiresses who inherit hotel chains, technology companies, or vast estates.

The word often appears in stories about wealthy families, where an heiress might have to manage a large inheritance or deal with the responsibilities that come with sudden wealth. In classic novels like A Little Princess, Sara Crewe is treated like an heiress when people believe she's wealthy, though her situation changes dramatically.

Being an heiress doesn't automatically mean someone's life is easy. Along with money and property comes responsibility: managing investments, continuing a family business, or deciding how to use wealth. Some heiresses work hard to grow what they've inherited, while others focus on philanthropy, using their wealth to help others.