Meaning & use
chief mourner
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Meaning
nouncountableformal
The main person who mourns at a funeral, usually the closest relative of the dead person.
Grammar: Countable noun; can be used with 'the' or 'a'. Often appears as 'the chief mourner'.
Patterns
- the chief mourner at a funeral
- act as chief mourner
At the funeral, his eldest son was the chief mourner.
Traditionally, the chief mourner leads the procession.
Word forms
| plural | chief mourners |
|---|
Common combinations
- the chief mourner at the funeral
- The chief mourner at the funeral was his widow.
- act as chief mourner
- In some cultures, a daughter may act as chief mourner.
- lead the mourning as chief mourner
- He led the mourning as chief mourner, walking behind the coffin.
Synonyms and how they differ
- principal mourner
- Similar meaning, but 'principal mourner' is even more formal and less common.
- bereaved
- Refers to someone who has lost a close relative, but not necessarily the leader of the mourning.
Word family
Commonly confused: chief mourner or chief mourner vs. chief griever?
chief mourner vs chief mourner vs. chief griever
'Chief griever' is not a standard term; 'chief mourner' is the established phrase for the leading mourner at a funeral.
Practice
Who is usually the chief mourner at a funeral?
Choose one answer.
The chief mourner is the main grieving relative, not necessarily the speaker or the funeral director. The other options describe different roles.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chief mourner”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.