adj
deceased
dih-SEEST
adj
1
No longer alive; dead — usually said of a person, as a more formal or gentle alternative to "dead."
"Her deceased husband had left detailed instructions for the funeral."
"The charity was founded in memory of the founder's deceased daughter."
noun
1
The person or people who have died, especially in a legal, medical, or formal context.
"The deceased was identified by dental records."
"Next of kin of the deceased were notified by police that evening."
How to Use Deceased
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal, respectful word for someone who has died — common in obituaries, legal papers, and news reports.
Common mistake
It is a formal/legal register word — in everyday speech people usually just say "dead" or "passed away." Don't confuse with "diseased" (having a disease), which is spelled and pronounced differently but often mistyped.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
the deceased
deceased person
deceased's estate
Word Forms
deceased plural, deceaseds plural
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Her _____ husband had left detailed instructions for the funeral.
Etymology
From "decease" (to die), which came through Old French from Latin decessus, "a departure" — the same idea as "passing away."