Pronunciation: [wˈɪdə͡ʊə] (IPA) 
The word "widower" is a noun that refers to a man whose spouse has died and has therefore been left alone. Its spelling is derived from the root word "widow" with the suffix "-er" added, indicating a male. The IPA phonetic transcription for the word is /'wɪdəʊə/, which consists of the stress syllable "WID" followed by the unstressed syllables "ow" and "er". The sound "d" is pronounced as "ð", making the word sound like "WID-th-oh-er".
A widower is a term used to describe a man whose spouse has died, thus leaving him widowed. It refers to a specific marital status that applies to men who have lost their wives due to death. This term is typically used within the context of heterosexual relationships, acknowledging that the husband has outlived his female partner.
The experience of being a widower can be emotionally challenging for the individual, as it involves coping with the loss of a life partner and adjusting to life without their presence. Widowers often go through grief and mourning, having to confront the absence of their wives and adapt to their new circumstances as single individuals.
The term "widower" encompasses a wide range of personal situations and emotions, including feelings of bereavement, loneliness, and the need for support. It serves as a descriptor to identify men who are widowed and may also be used to refer to their social and legal status.
In society, there are various support groups, counseling services, and resources available to provide assistance for widowers during their bereavement process. These resources aim to address the unique challenges faced by widowers and help them navigate their personal journey towards healing and rebuilding their lives.
A man deprived of a wife by death.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word widower originated from Middle English, with its root deriving from the Old English word widewe, which meant widow. The term widewe further originated from the Proto-Germanic word widewo and is related to the Old High German word wituwa.
