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Definition of bereavement

bereavement

/bɪˈriːv.mənt/
be · reave · ment
Plural:bereavements
•
Adjective:bereaved
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bereavement Lexical Profile

bereavement Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The state or experience of having lost a close relative or friend through death.

Example

"The company offers five days of paid bereavement leave to employees who lose an immediate family member."

2

A severe deprivation or loss of something valuable or deeply cherished.

Example

"For the dedicated pianist, the loss of mobility in his hands was a profound bereavement."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for bereavement

• Nearby Words

berber
bereave
bereaved
bereavement
bereft
beret
beretta

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 17th century from the verb 'bereave' plus the suffix '-ment', tracing back to Old English 'berēafian' (to deprive of, take away by violence, or rob).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bereavement. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bereavement
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