bereavement

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UK/bɪˈriːvmənt/US/bɪˈrivmənt/US/bi-/

noun

The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death.

“bereavement leave”

Similar
mourning
Less commonScrabble 18
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Word of the Day · Apr 28, 2023

Meanings

nounbereavement (countable and uncountable, plural bereavements)

plural bereavements

  1. countableuncountableThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death.

    bereavement leave

    4 more examples

    1864 November 21, Abraham Lincoln (signed) or John Hay, letter to Mrs. Bixby in Boston I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost

    She took several weeks off work following the bereavement.

    The organization provides counselling for people experiencing bereavement.

    bereavement support

Synonyms & antonyms

nounstate of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one

Similar
mourning
Broader
sadnesssorrowsorrowfulness
Also see
agonyanguishdeprivationmourning

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From bereave + -ment.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian тежка загуба
  • тежка загуба (težka zaguba)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Catalan dol
  • dolThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Chinese Mandarin 喪親 /丧亲
  • 喪親 /丧亲 (sàngqīn)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Czech zármutek, truchlení
  • zármutekThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • truchleníThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • smutekThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • žalThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Dutch verlies, beroving
  • verliesThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • berovingThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • sterfgevalThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Finnish menetys
  • menetysThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
French privation, deuil
  • privationThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • deuilThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
German Verlust
  • VerlustThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Greek πένθος
  • πένθος (pénthos)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Icelandic ástvinamissir, einstæðingsskapur
  • ástvinamissirThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • einstæðingsskapurThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Italian lutto
  • luttoThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Japanese 死別
  • 死別 (shibetsu)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Latin viduitās
  • viduitāsThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Latvian zaudējums
  • zaudējumsThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Portuguese luto
  • lutoThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Russian утра́та, тяжёлая утра́та
  • утра́та (utráta)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • тяжёлая утра́та (tjažólaja utráta)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • поте́ря (potérja)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Spanish duelo, luto
  • dueloThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • lutoThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Swedish sorg
  • sorgThe state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Ukrainian втра́та, важка́ втра́та
  • втра́та (vtráta)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • важка́ втра́та (važká vtráta)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
  • тяжка́ втра́та (tjažká vtráta)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Yiddish אַבֿלות
  • אַבֿלות (aveyles)The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Cite this entry
APA

bereavement. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bereavement

MLA

“bereavement.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bereavement. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bereavement,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bereavement.

Source: bereavement on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.