How to say "widow" in Japanese

• 未亡人みぼうじんCommon
  nounThe word for a widow in the strict sense: a woman whose husband has died. It fits contexts where bereavement is the point, such as a mother raising children alone after her husband's death.
  その未亡人みぼうじんは黒衣こくいをまとっていた。↗

  The widow was dressed in black.
• 寡婦かふCommon
  nounIt does mean 'widow', but its coverage is wider, taking in a divorced woman who has not remarried and an unmarried woman. Use it when the woman may be divorced or single rather than bereaved.

For a woman whose husband has died, use 未亡人; 寡婦 also means widow but extends to a divorced woman who has not remarried and an unmarried woman, so it fits when bereavement is not the point.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 未亡人みぼうじんwidow
• 寡婦かふwidow
• 後家ごけwidow
• ウィドーwidow
• 女やもめおんなやもめwidow
• 後室こうしつdowager
• 寡かunmarried person