widowhood
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of widowhood
before 900; Middle English wid ( e ) wehood, Old English widuwanhād, equivalent to widuwan, genitive singular of widuwe widow + -hād -hood
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.
Many life transitions—retirement, widowhood, divorce, empty nesting—come with an unexpected loss of social anchors.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026
The remarks drew attention for their deeply personal nature, given Massie’s long record of public service and the sensitive circumstances of his widowhood.
From Salon • Nov. 16, 2025
Chernow ends with a brief chapter devoted to Eliza’s life during her 50 years of widowhood, while Vaill makes her the focus of the 100-plus pages of Part 3.
From Slate • Oct. 21, 2025
In Hogan’s novel of life during widowhood, Venetia Hargreaves searches for a new self in her 70s.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024
It was widowhood that had driven my own mother insane.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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.
