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

Our mothers had different situations in widowhood, and our new roles in our respective families required different kinds of responsibility. —Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026

And a full 80%, or about 34 million senior households, would be unable to weather a major shock such as widowhood, serious illness, or the need for long-term care. —Rob Wile, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025

In 1968: Jacqueline Kennedy married multi-millionaire Greek businessman Aristotle Onassis, ending nearly five years of widowhood following the assassination of her first husband, President John F. Kennedy. —Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025

Some 80% of older adult households, about 34 million, don't have the financial resources to weather a shock such as sudden widowhood, serious illness or need for long-term care. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025

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