noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/bɪˈriːvmənt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:B ER0 IY1 V M AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
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
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: mourning
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: sadness, sorrow, sorrowfulness
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English bereave Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English bereavement From bereave + -ment.
Across languages
Translations
33 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
тежка загуба
(težka zaguba)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Catalan:
dol
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Chinese Mandarin:
喪親 /丧亲
(sàngqīn)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Czech:
zármutek
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Czech:
truchlení
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Czech:
smutek
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Czech:
žal
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Dutch:
verlies
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Dutch:
beroving
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Dutch:
sterfgeval
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Finnish:
menetys
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Franco-Provençal:
doly
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
French:
privation
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
French:
deuil
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
German:
Verlust
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Greek:
πένθος
(pénthos)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Icelandic:
ástvinamissir
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Icelandic:
einstæðingsskapur
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Italian:
lutto
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Japanese:
死別
(shibetsu)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Latin:
viduitās
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Latvian:
zaudējums
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Portuguese:
luto
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Russian:
утра́та
(utráta)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Russian:
тяжёлая утра́та
(tjažólaja utráta)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Russian:
поте́ря
(potérja)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Spanish:
duelo
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Spanish:
luto
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Swedish:
sorg
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Ukrainian:
втра́та
(vtráta)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Ukrainian:
важка́ втра́та
(važká vtráta)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Ukrainian:
тяжка́ втра́та
(tjažká vtráta)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
Yiddish:
אַבֿלות
(aveyles)
— The state of being bereaved; deprivation; especially the loss of a relative by death
