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 attrib

(Definition of deceased from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

The deceased is used to refer to a particular person or to particular people who have recently died.

1. no longer living; dead. n. 2. the deceased, a particular dead person or persons.

Definition of deceased adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Apr 30, 2026 · Noun deceased (plural deceased or deceaseds) (euphemistic) Synonym of dead (“those who have died”).

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025 de•ceased (di sēst′), adj. no longer living; dead. n. the deceased: the particular dead person or

The word 'deceased' originated from the Latin word 'decedere', which means 'to die' or 'to depart'. It has been used in English since the 15th century to refer to those who have pa

DECEASED definition: no longer living; dead. See examples of deceased used in a sentence.

(law): One who has died. In property law, the alternate term decedent is generally used. In criminal law, “the deceased” refers to the victim of a homicide.