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.
“Medical personnel attempted lifesaving measures, but the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the department said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Fathur said two people were evacuated alive from the debris and "one was found deceased", according to video footage released by the agency.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
My understanding is that leaving the policy solely in the deceased parents’ names could create a problem if there is a claim, particularly now that the daughter has inherited the property.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
The head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, confirmed the strike and shared his condolences with the families of the deceased.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Depending on one’s relationship to the deceased, official mourning lasted from three months to more than two years after the funeral.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
