widowhood

noun

wid·​ow·​hood ˈwi-dō-ˌhu̇d 

-də-

1

: the fact or state of being a widow

2

: the period during which a woman remains a widow

3

: widowerhood

Examples of widowhood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Others get there through divorce, widowhood or the unexpected turns life takes. — Angie O’Leary, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Many join after personal trauma, such as divorce, widowhood, injury and illness. — Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

That determination, however, has not erased the challenges of widowhood. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026

The woman in her early twenties with her two models of erotic love wasn’t thinking about widowhood. — Siri Hustvedt, Vanity Fair, 5 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for widowhood

• adulthood
• babyhood
• brotherhood
• cottonwood
• fatherhood
• firewood
• fuelwood
• hardihood
• ironwood
• leatherwood
• likelihood
• livelihood