Translate text 
Translate files Widow
/ˈwɪdoʊ/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A woman whose spouse has died and has not remarried.
After his passing, she became a widow and had to adjust to life alone.
A woman who is unmarried, particularly one who is not a widow in the strictest sense.
The widow next door often shares stories about her late husband.
In some contexts, a wronged woman or someone who has been abandoned.
She felt like a widow after her partner left with no explanation.
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English 'widuwe,' from Proto-Germanic '*widuwō' (female bereft of a spouse).
Common Phrases and Expressions
widow's peak
A V-shaped point in the hairline at the forehead.
widow's walk
A railing walk atop a house or barn, originally used for watching for ships.
black widow
A name often used for a type of spider; also slang for a woman who kills their spouse.
Related Words
widower
A man whose wife has died and who has not remarried.
bereavement
The state of having lost someone close, particularly through death.
orphan
A child whose parents are deceased.
Slang Meanings
Black widow
He's dating a black widow who has gone through several husbands.
Biddy
In some contexts, biddy can refer to an older woman who has lost her husband.