bereavement

noun be·reave·ment \ bi-ˈrēv-mənt , bē- \

Definition of bereavement

:the state or fact of being bereaved or deprived of something or someone

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Examples of bereavement in a Sentence

The following May, my wife and I flew to London for my father's funeral. Pam, determined to wrangle us an upgrade to business class on the strength of my bereavement, gave the British Airways ticketing clerk two passports and a sob story. —John Haney, Gourmet, January 2003
In the sections of her book that should prove an enduring contribution to the literature of grief, Ms. Gilbert recounts her free fall into widowhood, starting with that modern rite of bereavement, the erasing of the answering-machine message. —James S. Kunen, New York Times Book Review, 19 Mar. 1995
In any case, sadness and loss of interest and drive during periods of bereavement are expected and normal. If Mozart had not been upset by his parents' deaths, his wife's illnesses, and his separations from her, he would be less than human. —William A. Frosch, Musical Quarterly, 1990
a period of grief after bereavement
people who have recently suffered bereavements

Recent Examples of bereavement from the Web

Around the horn Left-handed reliever Donnie Hart was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, making room for the club to reinstate right-hander Dylan Bundy from the bereavement list to start Tuesday’s game.

— eduardo a. encina, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles notes: Mark Trumbo out of starting lineup against Mariners," 29 Aug. 2017
Often they are inspired to go for short hair after a life-changing event, such as divorce or bereavement, but most often people in their thirties, forties and fifties are just ready to make a change.

— sarah westcott, Good Housekeeping, "I Chopped Off All My Hair and Got a Pixie in My 40s," 23 Aug. 2017
A player can be on the bereavement list for a minimum for three days and maximum of seven days.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers' Jose Iglesias leaves team following death in family," 6 Aug. 2017
The amnesia is usually centered on traumatic events, such as accidents or unexpected bereavements, and is usually partial and selective.

— stefania de vito, Scientific American, "Was Agatha Christie’s Mysterious Amnesia Real or Revenge on Her Cheating Spouse?," 2 Aug. 2017
In her own unfathomable bereavement, Dion was careful and conscientious with theirs.

— Vogue, "Céline Dion Takes Couture: Behind the Scenes With the Diva in Paris," 5 July 2017
British health authorities will also provide long-term bereavement counselling for those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

— Washington Post, "79 now believed to have died in London high-rise fire," 19 June 2017
In addition, British health authorities will provide long-term bereavement counselling for those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

— gregory katz, The Seattle Times, "UK: London tower may have used banned siding in renovation," 18 June 2017
In addition, British health authorities will provide long-term bereavement counselling for those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

— gregory katz, chicagotribune.com, "Officials: Building materials in London fire under scrutiny," 18 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bereavement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.