widow
B1Neutral. Appropriate in formal, legal, everyday, and compassionate contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A woman whose spouse has died and who has not remarried.
In printing/computing, a single line of a paragraph separated from the rest, appearing at the top of a page or column (widow) or bottom (orphan). Also used figuratively to describe someone or something left isolated or abandoned.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term specifies gender (female). The male equivalent is 'widower'. The state of being a widow is 'widowhood'. Can be used attributively (e.g., widow's pension).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. The verb usage (to be widowed) is equally common.
Connotations
Similar connotations of loss and solemnity in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. The printing term 'widow' is technical but understood in relevant fields on both sides of the Atlantic.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be/become] a widowleave [someone] a widowwidow of [name/deceased]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “widow's mite”
- “widow's peak”
- “widow's walk”
- “merry widow”
- “black widow”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in contexts like insurance or pension policies ('widow's benefit').
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or demographic studies on marriage and mortality.
Everyday
Common in news, obituaries, and personal conversations about bereavement.
Technical
In typography and desktop publishing, referring to a formatting issue.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She was widowed at a tragically young age.
- The war widowed many women in the village.
American English
- He was widowed last year and is still adjusting.
- The accident widowed her, leaving her with three children.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
- N/A
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- She receives a widow's allowance.
- The widow lady next door keeps to herself.
American English
- He applied for widow's benefits.
- She joined a support group for widowed parents.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her grandmother is a widow.
- He died and left her a widow.
- The young widow moved to a new city to start afresh.
- She became a widow after her husband's long illness.
- As a war widow, she received a modest pension from the government.
- The novel's protagonist is a wealthy Victorian widow navigating society's restrictions.
- The typographer adjusted the layout to eliminate the irritating widow at the top of the column.
- Demographic shifts have led to a higher proportion of widowed elderly women in the population.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'window' but with the 'n' fallen out, leaving an empty space – just as a widow's spouse is absent.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOSS AS AN EMPTY SPACE / ISOLATION (e.g., 'widowed line' in text, 'widow' in cards).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'вдова', which is a direct translation, but note the gender-specificity. Russian 'вдовец' is 'widower'. The Russian term is used similarly but check for false friends in idioms.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'widow' for a man (use 'widower').
- Misspelling as 'widower' for the female form.
- Using the term insensitively without context.
Practice
Quiz
In typography, a 'widow' refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The male equivalent is 'widower'.
Yes, in the passive form 'to be widowed' meaning to become a widow/widower.
It is neutral; appropriate in both formal (legal documents) and informal contexts, though the topic demands sensitivity.
It's a term for a V-shaped point in the hairline at the centre of the forehead, fancifully thought to resemble the hood of a widow's mourning garment.