noun

decedent

dih-SEE-duhnt/dɛsˈidʌnt/

A person who has died, especially in legal contexts.

A portrait of the decedent stands beside the estate file and a white flower.

A memorial portrait of a deceased elderly person beside a closed official file and a single white flower, calm respectful legal-estate context.

Etymology

deLatinaway

+cedLatinto go

+entLatinpresent participle

Going “away” became a gentle way to speak of dying. The participial form identifies the person who has departed from life, now especially in legal language.

In context

My Life & Me with Jenna McCusker17:00

the machine is what injects the embalming fluid into the decedent.

Tallon Mortuary Specialists - With Jenna McCusker

More examples

The death certificate lists the decedent's full name.
The decedent left no will, so state law determines who inherits.
The families of both decedents filed claims against the company.

Forms

decedent · decedents

Similar words

deceased: Also names a dead person, but is less specifically legal.
departed: Uses a gentler, more emotional tone, often in memorials.