widower
UK: ˈwɪdəʊə | US: ˈwɪdoʊər
n. a man whose spouse has died and who has not remarried
The word "widower" originates from the Old English "widuwe" (widow) + the agent suffix "-er," which denotes a male subject. Historically, "widow" (from Proto-Germanic *widuwō) referred to a bereaved spouse, but English later gendered the term by adding "-er" to specify males. This mirrors the linguistic pattern of creating masculine forms from neutral/feminine roots (e.g., "actor" vs. "actress").
After his wife passed away, he lived as a widower for a decade.
The support group helps widowers cope with grief.
In many cultures, a widower wears a black armband as a sign of mourning.
The novel’s protagonist is a lonely widower rebuilding his life.
Statistically, widowers remarry more often than widows.