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Definition of deceased

deceased

/dɪˈsiːst/
de · ceased

Plural:deceased
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deceased Lexical Profile

deceased Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

No longer living; having died, especially recently (used primarily in formal, legal, or medical contexts).

Example

"The estate of the deceased author was donated to the public library."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A person who has died, or dead people considered collectively (usually preceded by "the", especially in legal or formal contexts).

Example

"Friends and family gathered at the memorial service to honor the deceased."

Word Nuance & Usage

"Deceased" is primarily used in formal, legal, or medical contexts as a respectful term for someone who has recently died; when used as a noun, it is almost always preceded by the definite article "the" and remains unchanged in the plural.

• Rhymes for deceased

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English decesed, derived from Anglo-French deces (meaning 'death' or 'departure'), which comes from Latin decessus, the past participle of decedere ('to depart' or 'to die'), formed from de- ('away') and cedere ('to go').

Cite this Entry


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