decedent

American  

[dih-seed-nt] / dɪˈsid nt /

noun

Law.

1. a deceased person.

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decedent British  

/ dɪˈsiːdənt /

noun

1. law a deceased person

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Etymology

Origin of decedent

1590–1600; < Latin dēcēdent- (stem of dēcēdēns ) departing, withdrawing, present participle of dēcēdere. See decease, -ent

Explanation

A decedent is someone who has died. Decedents are deceased. Every language has ways to avoid saying the dead guy, and English has two that come from the same root: deceased, a formal and impersonal way of designating one recently departed, and decedent, the version preferred when a lawyer is in the room. Both words are from Latin decedere, meaning "to die." Decedents include all dead people, no matter when they died. Someone who died an hour ago is a decedent as well as someone who died 300 years ago.

Example Sentences

“To a reasonable degree of medical certainty, if Plaintiff’s Decedent, Philip Tong, would have received proper care, treatment and follow up from defendant on December 18, 2023, he would have survived,” the lawsuit alleges.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2024

“The Decedent made payments of $10,000 on August 18, 2021 and October 8, 2021,” states the claim, filed last Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2022

“Deputies did not know, and failed to check, if Decedent Valerie was alive when they arrived,” the suit says.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2020

For example, one woman who said she was adopted claimed Prince was her father because "based upon the general description of the lifestyle of her biological parents, her fascination with the Decedent and physical similarities."

From US News • Jul. 29, 2016

“Plaintiff’s Decedent knew about the hazards of his conduct, but proceeded with his course of conduct, causing the claimed injuries,” the document says.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2013