a widow of three

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a widow of three" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a woman whose spouse has died and who has three children. Example: "After the tragic loss of her husband, she became a widow of three, raising her children alone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At one session, he meets a widow of three years.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Ramona Decker, a widow of one of those members, said she had been touched by their care and was helping out at the stand to show her thanks.

The New York Times

As a widow of two and a half years after 42 years of marriage, I can certainly identify with some of Ms. Brozek's feelings of loss, sadness and bereavement.

The New York Times

BP's response following a gas plant terror attack which left six Britons dead has been "inhumane to the extreme", a widow of one of the victim's has claimed.

Independent

5] morning at 27 rue Nollet, in the Batignolles quarter of Paris, the victims being M. Edouard Peltier, aged eighty-three, a former official of the Ministry of Justice, and his servant, a widow of forty-six, naMarie Faupiedpied, who had only entered his service on the death recently of an old family servant.

The New York Times

In the French comedy "Hôtel Normandy," Alice, a widow of five years with no interest in another love, is given a 40th-birthday gift by her girlfriends at the bank where they work: a stay at a luxe resort in Deauville during its art biennale.

The New York Times

Dorothy was a widow of nine years, and I was many years divorced.

Los Angeles Times

Limbach, a widow, mother of three and grandmother, stays in shape hiking with the Sierra Club"I'm a pretty serious environmentalist --when shenvironmentalist --whenmenvironmentalist --whenConsheers Credis Un'tn, or taking photography and workingop classes at Santa Monica evening college.

Los Angeles Times

I also think Tod Williams's "The Door in the Floor" is an excellent adaptation of "A Widow for One Year"; he smartly adapted just the first third of that novel, when the character of Ruth (the eponymous widow) is still a little girl.

The New York Times - Books

Lady Carbury, a financially anxious widow of forty-three, sets out on a literary career to fund her handsome, good-for-nothing son's prospects of marrying an heiress (first target: Marie Melmotte).

The New Yorker

I answered in tears, "I'm a widow of an Isis martyr with four children.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a widow of three", ensure the context clearly establishes the relationship between the widow and the three children. This avoids ambiguity about whether 'three' refers to years of widowhood or number of children.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring the context makes it clear that "three" refers to the number of children, not the duration of widowhood. Rephrasing to "a widow with three children" can prevent misunderstanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a widow of three" functions as a noun phrase that modifies a noun (understood: woman). It serves to describe a woman's marital status and parental responsibilities, clarifying her situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Wiki

34%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a widow of three" is a grammatically correct but relatively rare construction used to describe a woman who has lost her husband and is raising three children. While technically accurate, it can be ambiguous, potentially leading to misinterpretations about what the "three" refers to. As confirmed by Ludwig, clarity is key, and alternative phrasing like "a widow with three children" is often preferred to avoid any confusion. The phrase is typically found in news reports or descriptive contexts where brevity is valued. Though less frequent than other options, understanding its meaning and potential for misinterpretation is important for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a widowed mother of three

Combines the concepts of widowhood and motherhood into a single adjective.

a mother of three who is widowed

Reorders the phrase to emphasize motherhood first, then widowhood.

a widow raising three children

Emphasizes the act of raising the children.

a bereaved mother with three children

Focuses on the grief and loss associated with widowhood.

a single mother of three after the loss of her husband

Highlights the single-parent status resulting from the husband's death.

a woman with three children whose husband died

Expands the phrase into a full clause, clarifying the relationship.

a woman who is a widow and has three kids

Uses a simpler, more informal vocabulary.

a woman, a widow, with three children

Breaks the description into separate appositives.

a mother responsible for three children after her husband's passing

Formal rephrasing

three children's widowed mother

Changes the word order to emphasize the children's perspective.

FAQs

What does "a widow of three" mean?

The phrase "a widow of three" refers to a woman whose husband has passed away (a widow) and who has three children.

How can I use "a widow of three" in a sentence?

You might say, "After the accident, she became "a widow of three", facing the challenge of raising her children alone."

What are some alternative ways to say "a widow of three"?

Alternatives include "a widowed mother of three", "a mother of three who is widowed", or "a woman with three children whose husband died". Consider using "a bereaved mother with three children" to emphasize the loss.

Is it better to say "a widow of three" or "a widow with three children"?

While both are grammatically correct, "a widow with three children" might be clearer as it directly states the relationship. "A widow of three" could potentially be misinterpreted. For utmost clarity, prefer stating "a mother of three who is widowed".