deceased
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Synonym Usage
See dead.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of deceased
Explanation
When someone is deceased, they are dead — not dying or even just about to die. They are dead. The word deceased has been around since the 15th century, however, when people talk of someone's having died, they rarely use deceased in conversation. For example, if you ask someone how their dog is and their dog is recently deceased, they'll most likely use a less technical phrase such as "no longer with us," or "passed away." The word deceased is more formal, and most often used in the documentation of death or in legal situations, as in "we are here to read the will of the deceased."
Vocabulary lists containing deceased
Salt to the Sea
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"Superman and Me" and "A Smart Cookie/It's Our Story, Too"
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The War I Finally Won
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A married father-of-two, Arday was discovered unresponsive Friday afternoon at an address in south London, according to the capital's Metropolitan Police, which has not confirmed the identity of the deceased person.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Medicaid cannot recover certain assets from a deceased beneficiary’s estate if the beneficiary is survived by a child under 21, or a blind or disabled child of any age.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
Fueled by a booming resale market, the ritual of buying deceased homeowners’ belongings has morphed from a leisurely weekend outing into an elbows-up affair.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
A man who was reported missing in Fawnskin on Monday morning was found deceased by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department near his campsite after an extensive search.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
“Miss Deveraux told me that you’re a bit impulsive and she was worried for your welfare. Told me your services were a gift from her now deceased father, and how valuable she finds your companionship.”
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
