deceased

1 of 2

adjective

de·​ceased di-ˈsēst 

: no longer living

especially : recently dead

—used of persons

Both of his parents are deceased.

deceased relatives

deceased

2 of 2

noun

plural deceased

: a dead person

the will of the deceased

did not release the deceased's name until his family had been notified

Synonyms

Adjective

• asleep
• breathless
• cold
• dead
• defunct
• demised
• departed
• fallen
• gone
• late
• lifeless
• low

Choose the Right Synonym for deceased

dead, defunct, deceased, departed, late mean devoid of life.

dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.

a dead, listless performance

defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently.

deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.

the company's late president

Examples of deceased in a Sentence

Adjective

the recently deceased tenant was found by a concerned neighbor

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Mike Salerno reported that rescuers reached the aircraft and found three individuals, all of whom were deceased. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025

In a post on X, the Coast Guard also reported that three deceased individuals were found inside the plane, which was located on sea ice about 34 miles southeast of Nome. —Brie Stimson, Fox News, 7 Feb. 2025

Noun

GEDMatch is one of the databases used by the DNA Doe project, a non-profit that works to name the deceased who remain unidentified. —Crimesider Staff, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see decease

Noun

see decease

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing deceased

• the deceased

Kids Definition

deceased

1 of 2 noun

de·​ceased di-ˈsēst 

plural deceased

: a dead person

the will of the deceased

deceased

2 of 2 adjective

: no longer living

his deceased grandparents

Medical Definition

deceased

1 of 2 adjective

de·​ceased -ˈsēst 

: no longer living

especially : recently dead

—used of persons

deceased

2 of 2 noun

plural deceased

: a dead person

the will of the deceased