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noun

widower

WIH-doh
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Widower (noun) means a man whose wife has died and who has not remarried. Example: “He became a widower after forty years of marriage.”

noun
1
A man whose wife has died and who has not remarried.
"What happens to the lovers of people with AIDS? How do they experience the passage from lover to caregiver to "widower"?" — Lori Kenschaft, Film on lovers of PWAs in works (1988)
"He became a widower after forty years of marriage."
"The support group is aimed at widowers coping with loss."

How to use widower

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe male equivalent of "widow" — a man whose spouse has died.

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Word forms

Plural
widowers
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He became a _____ after forty years of marriage.

Etymology

From Middle English widwer, formed from widow plus the masculine suffix -er.

Origin: Middle English

widowman

Rhymes for widower

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Frequently asked questions

What does “widower” mean?
The word “widower” means a man whose wife has died and who has not remarried. In plain terms, the male equivalent of "widow" — a man whose spouse has died.
How do you pronounce “widower”?
“Widower” is pronounced WIH-doh (/ˈwɪdoʊɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “widower” in a sentence?
Here is “widower” used in a sentence: “He became a widower after forty years of marriage.”
What part of speech is “widower”?
“Widower” is a noun.
Where does the word “widower” come from?
The word “widower” comes from Middle English. From Middle English widwer, formed from widow plus the masculine suffix -er.