deceased

1 of 2

adjective

de·​ceased di-ˈsēst How to pronounce deceased (audio)
: no longer living
especially : recently dead
used of persons
Both of his parents are deceased.
deceased relatives

deceased

2 of 2

noun

plural deceased
: a dead person
the will of the deceased
did not release the deceased's name until his family had been notified
Choose the Right Synonym for deceased

dead, defunct, deceased, departed, late mean devoid of life.

dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.

a dead, listless performance

defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently.

deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.

the company's late president

Examples of deceased in a Sentence

Adjective the recently deceased tenant was found by a concerned neighbor
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Initial results from an audit of the 2020 election in Tarrant County — ordered just hours after former President Donald Trump’s request — found 12 instances in which someone might have voted in another state and one possible case of a vote being cast in the name of a deceased person. Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024 Two Ohio women have been charged with gross abuse of a corpse after being accused of driving a deceased elderly man to a bank to withdraw money from his account. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Similarly, a study published in 2022 found that CTE was rare in deceased military personnel who'd experienced TBIs or been exposed to bomb blasts. Jon Hamilton, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 Morales plays the titular deceased Zoe, whose specter shapes the narrative. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 In 2021, roughly 20,000 deceased donor kidneys were procured for transplant — and more than 20% were discarded. Joshua Mezrich, STAT, 2 Mar. 2024 Meyers has observed death rituals that include praying, burning incense, wrapping a deceased pet’s body in a white sheet, and opening a window for a pet’s spirit to exit. Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Five regents, including Toranaga, have been entrusted to maintain peace while keeping the royal seat warm for their deceased sovereign’s sole heir, who has yet to come of age. Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 One person was pronounced deceased at the scene, the spokesperson added. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
GEDMatch is one of the databases used by the DNA Doe project, a non-profit that works to name the deceased who remain unidentified. Crimesider Staff, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deceased.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see decease

Noun

see decease

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deceased was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near deceased

Cite this Entry

“Deceased.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deceased. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deceased

1 of 2 noun
de·​ceased di-ˈsēst How to pronounce deceased (audio)
plural deceased
: a dead person
the will of the deceased

deceased

2 of 2 adjective
: no longer living
his deceased grandparents

Medical Definition

deceased

1 of 2 adjective
de·​ceased -ˈsēst How to pronounce deceased (audio)
: no longer living
especially : recently dead
used of persons

deceased

2 of 2 noun
plural deceased
: a dead person
the will of the deceased

More from Merriam-Webster on deceased

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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