Standard Lemma guide

widowerhood

noun · 1 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state or period of being a widower.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English widower Proto-Indo-European *keyt-der. Proto-Germanic *haiduzder. Proto-West Germanic *-haiduder. Old English -hād Middle English -hede English -hood English widowerhood From widower + -hood.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: leskeys — The period of being a widower
  • French: veuvage — The period of being a widower
  • German: Witwertum — The period of being a widower
  • Greek: χηρεία (chireía) — The period of being a widower
  • Hungarian: özvegység — The period of being a widower
  • Irish: baintreachas — The period of being a widower
  • Māori: pouarutanga — The period of being a widower
  • Polish: wdowieństwo — The period of being a widower
  • Portuguese: viuvez — The period of being a widower
  • Swahili: ujane — The period of being a widower