French word

défunt

Pronunciation

IPA/defœ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivedead

Example

Mon grand-père est défunt depuis trois ans.

My grandfather has been dead for three years.

Illustration for défunt (dead)

More examples

Ils ont parlé de son père défunt avec respect.

They spoke of his deceased father with respect.

Core concept

A deceased person viewed through the language of records, memorials, and public remembrance.

Common phrases

  • un parent défunt

    a deceased relative

  • son père défunt

    his deceased father

  • le frère défunt

    the deceased brother

Similar words

mort: No longer alive, in everyday language.
décédé: Having died, stated politely in formal written language.
disparu: Having died, expressed in a gentle euphemistic way.

Definition in French

Désigne une personne qui est morte, employé surtout dans un registre formel et dans les nécrologies ; peut aussi être utilisé comme nom (un défunt, une défunte).

Word origin

Latin defunctus gave French défunt through historical sound and spelling changes, with the original sense of having finished or fulfilled a task.

Usage tips

  • The ordinary adjective mort is usually more neutral in daily French, whereas défunt can sound ceremonious or administrative.

Other meanings

  • deceasednoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word