A widow's a woman whose husband has died. A man whose wife has died's a widower. The state of having lost one's spouse to death's termed widowhood or (occasionally) viduity. The adjective's widowed. Economic position of widows The economic position of widows has been an important social issue in many societies. In societies in which the husband was typically the sole provider, his death could plunge his family into poverty. This was aggravated by women's longer life spans, and that men generall… (More on Widow)