Standard Lemma guide

intestacy

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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  • /ɪnˈtɛstəsi/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of being intestate, or of dying without having made a valid will.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the situation of being or dying without a legally valid will

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: situation, state of affairs

History

Etymology

From intestate + -cy.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: липса на завещание (lipsa na zaveštanie) — the state of being intestate
  • Chinese Mandarin: 未留遺囑而死亡 /未留遗嘱而死亡 (wèi liú yízhǔ ér sǐwáng) — the state of being intestate
  • Chinese Mandarin: 無遺囑死亡 /无遗嘱死亡 (wú yízhǔ sǐwáng) — the state of being intestate
  • Finnish: testamentittomuus — the state of being intestate
  • Irish: díthiomnacht — the state of being intestate
  • Manx: neuhymnaght — the state of being intestate