38 USC § 1901 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s1901"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 1901 - Definitions"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "1901"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 19
chapter_name: "INSURANCE"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "NATIONAL SERVICE LIFE INSURANCE"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "GENERAL BENEFITS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1148, § 701; renumbered § 1901, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)"
---


# § 1901. Definitions

For the purposes of this subchapter—

**(1)** The term “insurance” means National Service Life Insurance.

**(2)** The terms “widow” or “widower” mean a person who was the lawful spouse of the insured at the maturity of the insurance.

**(3)** The term “child” means a legitimate child, an adopted child, and, if designated as beneficiary by the insured, a stepchild or an illegitimate child.

**(4)** The terms “parent”, “father”, and “mother” mean a father, mother, father through adoption, mother through adoption, persons who have stood in loco parentis to a member of the military or naval forces at any time before entry into active service for a period of not less than one year, and a stepparent, if designated as beneficiary by the insured.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1148, § 701; renumbered § 1901, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Prior section 1901 was renumbered .

Another prior section 1901, , , , as amended by , , , related to veterans eligible for assistance, prior to the general revision of chapter 39 of this title by . See sections 3901 and 3902 of this title.

### Amendments

1991— renumbered  as this section.