bereavement
Americannoun
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a period of mourning after a loss, especially after the death of a loved one.
The widow had many visitors during her bereavement.
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a state of intense grief, as after the loss of a loved one; desolation.
Not all therapists are equipped to treat clients suffering with such debilitating bereavement.
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deprivation or loss by force (usually followed byof ).
The bereavement of our community began with the closing of the mill.
noun
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the condition of having been deprived of something or someone valued, esp through death
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a death
Usage
What does bereavement mean? Bereavement is a period of mourning or or state of intense grief, especially following the death of a loved one. Bereavement is often a process that includes going through several stages of grief. Bereavement can also be used more generally to mean the state of having lost something very dear. Example: While on bereavement leave from work, Jenn coped with her loss by spending time in nature and talking to a therapist.
Etymology
Origin of bereavement
Explanation
If you have ever mourned someone's passing, you know about bereavement — the period of sorrow that follows the death of a loved one. Bereavement comes from an Old English word that means “rob,” “deprive,” and “seize.” When a loved one is taken, usually through death, those who remain are often left in a state of bereavement. Bereavement is not only reserved for the death of a human family member or friend, but the loss of a pet can also induce bereavement.
Vocabulary lists containing bereavement
100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
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The Girl Who Drank the Moon
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Among the Hidden
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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.
"We also offer Bereavement Support Payments to help people through the immediate period following a bereavement."
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Around the same time, we suffered a bereavement in the family, and I believe the combination of grief and professional strain took a significant toll on her well-being.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 25, 2026
He said he had heard experiences of bereavement, avoidable loss, harm and disability suffered by women, as well as the experiences of fathers and partners.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas won’t take bereavement leave or travel back to his native Venezuela following the sudden death of his father, Miguel Rojas Sr., manager Dave Roberts said before the game.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026
After Uncle Al recovers from his violent but short-lived bereavement, he organizes a farewell befitting “our beloved Lucinda.”
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
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.
