Deceased

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /dɪˈsiːst/
• US enPR: dÄ“-sÄ“st' IPA: /di.'sist/
• Rhymes: -iːst

Origin

decease + -ed, from Middle English deceas via Old French, from Latin dēcessus ("departure"), equivalent to Latin dēced-, variation of Latin dēcēdre ("to go away").

Full definition of deceased

Adjective

1. No longer alive
• That parrot is definitely deceased, and when I purchased it not ’alf an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it bein’ tired and shagged out following a prolonged squawk. Monty Python
2. Belonging to the dead.
• The executor’s commission for winding up the deceased estate was 3.5%.
3. (legal): One who has died. In property law, the alternate term decedent is generally used. In criminal law, “the deceased” refers to the victim of a homicide.

Synonyms

• (no longer alive) asleep, at peace, at rest, dead, departed, late, gone

Usage notes

Not to be confused with diseased (affected with or suffering from disease)

Noun

1. A dead person
• The deceased was interred in his local churchyard.
2. (plural deceased) dead people
• A memorial to the deceased of two World Wars.
3. (legal): One who has died. In property law, the alternate term decedent is generally used. In criminal law, “the deceased” refers to the victim of a homicide.

Synonyms

• (dead person) dead person, dead soul, deceased person, decedent, departed, late
• (plural: dead people) dead people, dead souls, deceased people, decedents, departed

Usage notes

Deceased is commonly used in legal and journalistic settings. Departed is most commonly used in religious settings.