Use bereavement for death-related loss and its aftermath, while grief names the emotional response and mourning often names its outward expression or period.
Use bereavement for death-related loss and its aftermath, while grief names the emotional response and mourning often names its outward expression or period.
Bereavement is not a verb, and it normally refers to loss by death rather than ordinary disappointment, breakups, or misplaced objects.
Formed in the 1700s from bereave plus -ment. Bereave comes from Old English bereafian, meaning to deprive, rob, or take away.
What does bereavement mean?
Bereavement means the death of someone close, or the state of grief and loss that follows that death.
Is bereavement the same as grief?
Not exactly. Bereavement is the loss or state after a death, while grief is the emotional response to that loss.
Is bereavement a verb?
No. Bereavement is a noun. The related verb is bereave, and the adjective is bereaved.
Can bereavement mean time off work?
The full phrase is bereavement leave. In workplace contexts, bereavement can be used briefly for that leave, but the phrase is clearer.
What is bereavement leave?
Bereavement leave is time off work after a death, often to grieve, attend a funeral, or handle family arrangements.
What is the difference between bereavement and mourning?
Bereavement is the state of loss after a death. Mourning is the expression or period of grief that may follow.
Can there be more than one bereavement?
Yes. Bereavement can be countable when referring to individual deaths, as in two bereavements in one year.
How is bereavement pronounced?
Bereavement is pronounced /bɪˈriːvmənt/.