Deceased - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT deceased /dɪˈsist/ /dɪˈsist/ IPA guide

When someone is deceased, they are dead — not dying or even just about to die. They are dead.

The word deceased has been around since the 15th century, however, when people talk of someone's having died, they rarely use deceased in conversation. For example, if you ask someone how their dog is and their dog is recently deceased, they'll most likely use a less technical phrase such as "no longer with us," or "passed away." The word deceased is more formal, and most often used in the documentation of death or in legal situations, as in "we are here to read the will of the deceased."

Definitions of deceased

noun someone who is no longer alive synonyms: dead person, dead soul, deceased person, decedent, departed see moresee less examples: Lazarus the person who Jesus raised from the dead after four days in the tomb; this miracle caused the enemies of Jesus to begin the plan to put him to death types: infernal an inhabitant of Hell living dead, zombi, zombie a dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force type of: individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul a human being
adjective dead “he is deceased” synonyms: asleep, at peace, at rest, departed, gone dead no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

Pronunciation US /dɪˈsist/ UK /dɪˈsist/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘deceased'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing deceased

Salt to the Sea Ruta Sepetys

Through the alternating perspectives of four fictional teens, best-selling author Ruta Sepetys dramatizes the experiences of refugees searching for a safe haven during World War II. Learn key vocabulary from this engrossing historical novel based on a true story.

"Superman and Me" and "A Smart Cookie/It's Our Story, Too"

Edge: Level B, Volume 1, Unit 4, Cluster 2. Here are the links to the other clusters within Unit 4: "Curtis Aikens and the American Dream" and "Go For It!", "Superman and Me", "A Smart Cookie", and "It's Our Story, Too", "The Fast and the Fuel-Efficient" and "Teens Open Doors"

The War I Finally Won Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

In this sequel to The War That Saved My Life, Ada continues to weather World War II in a crowded house in the English countryside.

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