noun

decedent

dih-SEE-duhnt

noun

A legal term for a person who has died, used mainly in wills, estates, and probate law.

"The decedent's estate was divided equally among his three children."

"Under state law, the decedent's debts must be settled before any inheritance is paid out."

How to Use Decedent

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe legal word for a dead person, used almost exclusively in wills, estates, and court documents.

When to use it

This is specialist legal vocabulary — in ordinary conversation "the deceased" or "the person who died" is far more natural.

Easily confused with

deceased →

Common pairings

the decedent's estate decedent's assets

decedents plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The _____'s estate was divided equally among his three children.

From Latin decedens, "one who is departing" — from decedere, "to go away, to die."

precedent