1.
widow
A woman whose husband has died and who has not remarried.
戦争未亡人が多かった。
There were many war widows.
未亡人として子供を育てた。
She raised the children as a widow.
彼女は若くして未亡人になり、一人で家を守ってきた。
She became a widow at a young age and has kept the household together on her own.
The literal characters mean "person who has not yet died" (未 = not yet, 亡 = dead, 人 = person), reflecting the old idea that a wife should follow her husband in death. Because of this etymology, some consider the word outdated or problematic. In modern usage, alternatives like 夫を亡くした女性 (a woman who lost her husband) are sometimes preferred in formal or sensitive contexts.
USAGE NOTE:
Still widely understood and used in literature, news, and everyday conversation. However, be aware of its traditional connotations when writing formally.
RELATED TERMS:
- やもめ: widow or widower — gender-neutral in modern usage
- 寡婦: widow — legal/formal term
- 遺族: bereaved family — broader term