bereaved

[bih-reevd]

adjective

1. (of a person) greatly saddened at being deprived by death of a loved one.

noun

1. Usually the bereaved a bereaved person or persons.

   to extend condolences to the bereaved.

bereaved

/ bɪˈriːvd /

adjective

1. having been deprived of something or someone valued, esp through death

Other Word Forms

• unbereaved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bereaved¹

First recorded in 1100–50; Middle English bireved, late Old English birēafod (past participle); bereave, -ed ²

Example Sentences

It was claimed that the duchess later fell out with Wimbledon authorities over her attempt to bring the 12-year-old son of a bereaved friend into the Royal Box.

From BBC

In a special ceremony held on Friday Kim was seen comforting bereaved families and presenting them portraits of their dead loved ones wrapped in the North Korean flag.

From BBC

Funeral director George Roberts, from SAIF, said bereaved families deserved a professional service and needed to know they were in "safe hands".

From BBC

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa conveyed his "deepest sympathies" to the bereaved family of the firefighter killed in an accident on Sunday.

From BBC

Kenya's Ministry of Health made a call for an "urgent blood drive" to help survivors and extended its "condolences to the bereaved".

From BBC

Related Words

• depressed 
• heartbroken 
• melancholy 
• mournful 
• pessimistic 
• somber 
• sorrowful 
• sorry 
• unhappy