Glossary of widowhood and dating words
Plain-English meanings for words you may meet in widowhood and online dating.
Words about loss and grief
- Anniversary grief
- Waves of sadness that often return around special dates, such as a wedding anniversary, birthday or the day of the loss. It is very common.
- Bereavement
- The period of loss after someone close to you has died.
- Closure
- A sense of peace about a loss. Not everyone feels it, and there is no deadline for it.
- Condolence
- A kind message that shows sympathy for someone who has lost a loved one.
- Estate
- Everything a person owned when they died. Dealing with it can be a long process, so many people ask a professional for help.
- Grief
- The natural emotional response to loss. It looks different for everyone and changes over time.
- Living with loss
- A gentle way of describing life after a bereavement, where grief and everyday joy can exist together.
- Mourning
- The outward ways people show grief, such as customs, rituals or time spent in remembrance.
- Moving on
- A phrase some people dislike. Many prefer to say moving forward, because a new chapter does not erase the old one.
- Probate
- The legal process of dealing with a person's affairs after they die. It varies by country, so ask a qualified professional about your own situation.
- Survivor guilt
- A feeling of guilt for being alive, or for feeling happy, after a partner has died. It is common and can ease with time and support.
- Widow
- A woman whose husband or partner has died.
- Widower
- A man whose wife or partner has died.
- Widowhood
- The state of having lost a spouse or partner.
Dating and using the site
- Admin profile validation
- A check where a member of our team reviews and approves your profile, giving you a validation badge without you sending sensitive documents.
- Age assurance
- Checks used to estimate age and keep underage people out. Further checks are used where required.
- Badge
- A small mark on a profile earned through activity or verification, such as Verified, Chatterbox, Heartthrob or Most Popular.
- Blocking
- Stopping a member from seeing you or contacting you. It takes effect straight away.
- Dating again
- Meeting new people romantically after a loss. It does not mean forgetting your partner.
- First date after loss
- The first time you meet someone new after your partner has died. Feeling nervous, excited or tearful is normal. Our blog has relaxed ideas.
- ID verification
- A free, optional check that confirms you are a real person, with a badge on your profile once complete.
- Match
- A member suggested to you because your details and preferences seem to fit. See the features page.
- Off-platform contact
- When someone asks you to leave the site and chat on another app. It can be a scam tactic, so be careful.
- Profile
- Your page on the site, with your photos, your story and what you are looking for.
- Reporting
- Telling our team about a member or content that worries you, so action can be taken.
- Super Match
- A VIP+ add-on that sends a highlighted message to the top of someone's inbox, with your profile seen first.
- Support team
- The people who help members with questions and concerns, available 24/7.
- Video verification
- A live video check with a moderator that confirms who you are without any documents.
- VIP
- A paid membership with extras such as unrestricted messaging, advanced filters and chat rooms. See the pricing pages for details.
- VIP+
- The top membership, with everything in VIP plus extra visibility tools.
These are general explanations, not medical or legal advice. Have a question we have not answered? See the FAQ or our safety page.
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