Widower
'wɪdoʊər
Definitions
A man who has lost his spouse by death and has not remarried.
'wɪdoʊər
A man whose spouse has died and who has not remarried.
After his wife died, he lived as a widower for many years.
💡 Simply: Imagine your best friend's wife passed away. Your friend is now a widower because he lost his partner. He's alone, but he's still a 'widower' until he gets married again.
👶 For kids: A widower is a grown-up man whose wife died and he is not married to anyone else.
More Examples
The widower found comfort in his children.
Being a widower is a difficult experience.
How It's Used
"He became a widower at the age of 45."
"The widower struggled to raise his children alone."
From Middle English *widewer*, from Old English *wīdewe* (widow) + *-er* (agent suffix).
The term has been in use since the Old English period, reflecting the social impact of death and the loss of a spouse.
Memory tip
Think of 'widow' (female) and add '-er' for the male counterpart.