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 Words From

• un·be·reaved 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

The act's most controversial element, the offer of conditional immunity to suspects, was dropped following legal action by bereaved families.

From BBC

But while claiming he was shy, bereaved or recovering from a bad break-up, McDonald was taking money from them to pay for things that never materialised - from cut-price luxury items to house deposits.

From BBC

A charity, The Runnymede Trust, tweeted that "the legal system doesn’t deliver real justice for families bereaved by racist state violence".

From BBC

Groups representing bereaved families said they were horrified, adding it was “irrefutable evidence the NHS was overwhelmed”.

From BBC

An activist earlier told the crowd they were not just gathering "for the Kaba family" but for all "grieving" families who they said were "bereaved at the hands of the state".

From BBC

Related Words

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