bereavement

noun

: the state or fact of being bereaved or deprived of something or someone

Examples of bereavement in a Sentence

The following May, my wife and I flew to London for my father's funeral. Pam, determined to wrangle us an upgrade to business class on the strength of my bereavement, gave the British Airways ticketing clerk two passports and a sob story. John Haney, Gourmet, January 2003
In the sections of her book that should prove an enduring contribution to the literature of grief, Ms. Gilbert recounts her free fall into widowhood, starting with that modern rite of bereavement, the erasing of the answering-machine message. James S. Kunen, New York Times Book Review, 19 Mar. 1995
In any case, sadness and loss of interest and drive during periods of bereavement are expected and normal. If Mozart had not been upset by his parents' deaths, his wife's illnesses, and his separations from her, he would be less than human. William A. Frosch, Musical Quarterly, 1990
a period of grief after bereavement people who have recently suffered bereavements
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most of the two dozen men competing for Joan’s affections, who are between 57 and 69, have experienced bereavement or devastating heartbreak. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024 All contributions made during the sweepstakes will go to the foundation's Healthier Women campaign, supporting efforts in areas like oncology, maternal and infant health, bereavement and primary care. Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Oct. 2024 In one Massachusetts hospital, nurses were forced to place the remains of newborns in cardboard shipping boxes because Steward failed to pay a vendor for bereavement boxes. Ars Technica, 30 Sep. 2024 Blessedly, professional athletes in the 21st century are provided leaves of absence for bereavement and other family matters. Steve Buckley, The Athletic, 6 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bereavement 

Word History

Etymology

see bereave

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bereavement was in 1660

Dictionary Entries Near bereavement

Cite this Entry

“Bereavement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bereavement. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

bereavement

noun
: the state or fact of being bereaved
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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