was predeceased by

USAGE SUMMARY

"was predeceased by" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You would use it when referring to someone who has died before another person. For example, "John Smith was predeceased by his father, James Smith."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy.

Columbia University

Bosley was predeceased by his sister Cynthia.

Princeton University

Ken was predeceased by his wife, Nel.

Princeton University

He was Predeceased by two brothers.

The New York Times

Dolores was predeceased by her husband, Stanley.

The New York Times

He was predeceased by a brother, Richard.

The New York Times

Pat was predeceased by his mother, Margaret.

The New York Times

He was predeceased by his wife.

The New York Times

She was predeceased by her husband William.

The New York Times

She was predeceased by her son William.

The New York Times - Arts

He was predeceased by a son, Wiley.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was predeceased by" in formal contexts like obituaries or historical records to clearly indicate the order of deaths within a family or group.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase in active voice constructions (e.g., "predeceased by"). The passive voice construction, "was predeceased by", is the standard and grammatically correct form.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was predeceased by" functions as a passive voice construction used to indicate that a person died before another individual. It establishes the order of death between two or more people. As Ludwig confirms, this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

43%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was predeceased by" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that someone died before another person. As Ludwig confirms, it is appropriate for formal contexts, particularly in obituaries and biographical accounts. The phrase appears frequently in authoritative sources such as The New York Times and academic publications. While alternatives exist, such as "died before" or "preceded in death by", "was predeceased by" remains a clear and widely accepted way to convey the order of deaths in a formal setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preceded in death by

A formal alternative to "was predeceased by".

died before

A more straightforward way of saying someone passed away earlier.

passed away before

Similar to "died before" but slightly more formal.

departed before

Uses a gentler term for death, focusing on the act of leaving.

is survived by

Focuses on those still living after someone's death, a contrasting perspective.

went before

A more figurative and gentle way of saying someone died earlier.

outlived by

Highlights the individual who lived longer than the deceased.

has gone before

Similar to "went before" but with a sense of finality.

lived longer than

A simple way to state that one person survived another.

formerly deceased

Emphasizes the deceased state prior to the event being discussed.

FAQs

How to use "was predeceased by" in a sentence?

Use "was predeceased by" to indicate someone who died before another person. For example, "The author "was predeceased by" his wife."

What can I say instead of "was predeceased by"?

Alternatives include "died before", "passed away before", or "preceded in death by", depending on the desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "was predeceased by" or "predeceased by"?

"Was predeceased by" is the correct passive voice construction. "Predeceased by" is grammatically incomplete without an auxiliary verb.

Is "was predeceased by" formal or informal?

"Was predeceased by" is generally considered a formal phrase, commonly used in obituaries and official records. Simpler alternatives may be more appropriate for informal contexts.