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Definition of widower

widower

/ˈwɪd.oʊ.ɚ/
wid · ow · er
Plural:widowers
•
Adjective:widowed
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widower Lexical Profile

widower Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A man who has lost his spouse by death and has not married again.

Example

"After his wife passed away, the widower dedicated much of his time to volunteering at the local community center."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

The term specifically designates a man whose spouse has died, distinguishing it from 'widow', which is exclusively used for a woman. It generally implies that the person has not remarried.

• Nearby Words

widget
widow
widowbird
widower
wiener neustadt
wiesbaden
wig

Word Origin & Etymology

Originated in Middle English as 'widewer', formed by adding the suffix '-er' to 'widowe' (widow) to explicitly specify a male, after the original Old English masculine form 'wuduwa' fell out of common use.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Widower. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/widower
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