Word
deceased
Phoneticsde·ceased, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈsist/
UK/dɪsˈiːsd/
Definitions
01no longer living
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
adj. no longer alive. You use this word in formal writing or when talking about someone's death with great respect.
adj. no longer living; dead. This term serves as a formal euphemism, typically used in official documents, obituaries, or professional contexts.
“The lawyer asked for a copy of the deceased man's will.”
“The detective noted that the deceased individual had no identification on his person at the time the body was discovered.”
Usage
Often used as an attributive adjective before a noun like 'person', 'relative', or 'parent'.
02the person who died
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. the person or people who have died.
n. the person or persons who have died. This is a collective or singular noun phrase, often appearing as 'the deceased'.
“The deceased was a well-known doctor in the local community.”
“In accordance with the wishes of the deceased, the estate was divided equally among the three surviving charities.”
Usage
Usually preceded by the definite article 'the' to function as a noun.
Teaching tip
In American legal contexts, 'decedent' is often preferred over 'the deceased' for property and inheritance matters.
Synonyms
03very funny
C1 · Advanced Slang · Humorous · Informal
adj. a slang way to say you are laughing so hard that you feel 'dead'.
adj. figuratively overwhelmed, typically by amusement or shock. This is a hyperbolic use common in digital communication.
“Did you see his reaction to the prank? I am actually deceased.”
“The comedian's latest sketch was so accurate that the entire comment section was filled with people claiming to be deceased.”
Teaching tip
This is very modern internet slang; it should not be used in any professional or academic writing.
Real-World Examples
“Sheriff deputies in Delaware County said on Friday that they had found the body of a deceased 58-year-old woman, whom they believe died trying to drive her vehicle through floodwaters.” “They’re bound by the newly deceased Mary: Robin’s ex, Patch’s mother, and Jude’s aunt – a woman who “[didn’t] have a problem with gay men” but was lukewarm on lesbians.” Etymology
From decease + -ed, from Middle English deceas via Old French [Term?], from Latin dēcessus (“departure”), equivalent to dēced-, variation of dēcēdō, dēcēdere (“to go away”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/deceased