If you know someone whose husband or wife has died, you can describe that person as widowed. A man whose spouse has died is typically called a widower, while a woman is a widow. Both men and women can be described with the adjective widowed if their partners are no longer alive.

What is a key difference between widows and widowers?

A widow is a woman who has lost her spouse. A widower is a man who has lost his spouse. Being widowed refers to a man or woman who has lost their spouse.