decedent

noun

de·​ce·​dent di-ˈsē-dᵊnt 

law

: a person who is no longer living : a deceased person

the estate of the decedent

Examples of decedent in a Sentence

a tax on the estate of the decedent

Recent Examples on the Web

Police and the coroner’s office took the decedent, according to the cruise line. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 11 May 2026

The cost of those reports will increase from $17 to $28 each, but one free copy will still be provided to a decedent’s next of kin. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026

Assets that go undiscovered can defeat a decedent's wishes entirely. — Tara Faquir, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026

Investigators linked those pieces of evidence to a Facebook profile that resembled the decedent, the release states. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin decedent-, decedens, present participle of decedere — see decease

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

decedent

noun

de·​ce·​dent di-ˈsēd-ᵊnt 

: a deceased person

—used chiefly in law

Medical Definition

decedent

noun

de·​ce·​dent di-ˈsēd-ᵊnt 

: a deceased person

—used chiefly in law

Legal Definition

decedent

noun

de·​ce·​dent di-ˈsēd-ᵊnt 

: a deceased person

the estate of the decedent

Etymology

Latin decedent-, decedens, present participle of decedere to depart, die