"is a widow" vs "is a widow of"

Question

"is a widow" vs "is a widow of"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Is a widow' is used to simply state that someone is a widow, while 'is a widow of' is used to specify the deceased spouse. The choice between the two depends on whether you want to provide additional information about the deceased spouse.

Last Updated: March 23, 2024

This phrase is used to state that a woman's husband has died, without specifying the deceased spouse's name or any additional information.

Examples:

She is a widow and lives alone now.
After her husband passed away, she became a widow.

Alternatives:

She lost her husband.
Her husband is deceased.

This phrase is used when you want to specify the deceased spouse by mentioning their name or providing additional information about them.

Examples:

She is a widow of John, who passed away last year.
As the widow of a war hero, she received special recognition.

Alternatives:

She is the widow of John.
She lost her husband, John.

Answer 1

is a widow

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that a woman's husband has died.

Answer 2

is a widow of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to specify the deceased spouse when referring to a widow.

"is a widow" vs "is a widow of"

is a widow

is a widow of

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