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
Inside the residence, officers discovered 2 decedents.
—
Tracy Wright , Christina Dugan Ramirez , Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The decedent appears to be the victim of an impossible crime, and almost everyone in the church community — played by the likes of Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Jeremy Renner, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church — has something to hide.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
In both Texas and Utah, as with many other states, the parents are the first in the beneficiary line of a decedent without a spouse or children.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Those reports also note the decedent’s names and ages.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decedent
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Tracy Wright , Christina Dugan Ramirez , Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The decedent appears to be the victim of an impossible crime, and almost everyone in the church community — played by the likes of Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Jeremy Renner, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church — has something to hide.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
In both Texas and Utah, as with many other states, the parents are the first in the beneficiary line of a decedent without a spouse or children.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Those reports also note the decedent’s names and ages.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decedent
Cite this Entry
“Decedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decedent. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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