The term "deceased" refers to a person who has died. It is often used in formal contexts, such as legal documents or official reports, to indicate that someone is no longer alive. The word helps to communicate the state of being without any emotional connotations, making it suitable for sensitive discussions regarding death.
The word "deceased" comes from the Middle English term "deceast," which itself is derived from the Old French "decés," stemming from the Latin word "decessus," meaning "to go away" or "to depart." This reflects the idea of someone having departed from life.