noun
Formal term for a person who inherits a title, position, or estate, often used in historical or legal contexts.
彼は公爵家の世子として育てられた。
He was raised as the heir to the ducal house.
世子が家督を継ぐことになった。
The heir succeeded to the headship of the family.
Composed of 世 (generation, world) and 子 (child), literally 'child of the generation', referring to the next in line. The alternate form 世嗣 uses 嗣 (inherit, succeed).