deceased

[dih-seest]

adjective

1. no longer living; dead.

noun

1. the deceased,

   1. the particular dead person or persons referred to.

   2. dead persons collectively.

      to speak well of the deceased.

deceased

/ dɪˈsiːst /

adjective

1. 1. a more formal word for dead

   2. ( as noun )

      the deceased

Other Word Forms

• undeceased adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deceased¹

First recorded in 1480–90; decease + -ed ²

Synonym Study

See dead.

Example Sentences

Two weeks have passed since the representative-elect handily won Arizona’s special election, filling a seat vacated by her deceased father.

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In 1877, Congress even passed a law prohibiting it, which says that “only the portrait of deceased individuals may occur on the United States currency and securities.”

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In November, a fifth beluga died in a year, taking the total number of deceased whales since 2019 to 20, according to news agency the Canadian Press.

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A friend, now deceased, showed me this lake years ago because it used to have a world-class rope swing.

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All of the funds, Wallace said, were meant to take care of her deceased son’s three children.

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Related Words

• corpse 
• dead body www.thesaurus.com