de·ceased adjective
: no longer living
▪ Both his parents are deceased. [=dead] ▪ his deceased aunt
▪ Both his parents are deceased. [=dead] ▪ his deceased aunt
usage Dead and deceased both mean “no longer living,” but deceased is a gentler term, and people often use it when the person who died was close to them or when they are talking to someone who knew the person who died.
▪ My mother is deceased. ▪ Is your grandfather alive or deceased?
▪ My mother is deceased. ▪ Is your grandfather alive or deceased?
the deceased
formal : a dead person or dead people
▪ a relative of the deceased ▪ Three of the deceased are being buried today.
▪ a relative of the deceased ▪ Three of the deceased are being buried today.
