funeral

1 of 2

adjective

fu·​ner·​al ˈfyün-rəl How to pronounce funeral (audio)
ˈfyü-nə-
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a funeral
2

funeral

2 of 2

noun

1
: the observances held for a dead person usually before burial or cremation
2
chiefly dialectal : a funeral sermon
3
: a funeral procession
4
: an end of something's existence
5
: a matter of concern to one : worry
if you flunk, it's your funeral

Examples of funeral in a Sentence

Adjective a slow and heavy funeral song Noun Only family attended the funeral. His funeral will be held on Friday. His cousin made the funeral arrangements.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Thousands of items are lost across the city's sprawling transport network every month, including all manner of more common things such a funeral urns, a welder's mask and a blender. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2024 Since the funeral Mass where mourners said their last goodbyes. Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 11 Feb. 2024 The campaign involved sending anonymous and disturbing deliveries to the victims’ home, including a book on surviving the death of a spouse, a bloody pig mask, a fetal pig and a funeral wreath as well as live spiders and cockroaches, according to the charging document. Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 12 Jan. 2024 The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook there will be a funeral procession for Leonard on Tuesday. Rebekah Riess, CNN, 19 Feb. 2024 But Gotto said she – and her father, Dave, – were unprepared for all that came with tying up everything from funeral arrangements to his financial affairs. USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2024 Maliciously or willfully disturbing a funeral, memorial service, procession or burial ceremony. Threatening, quarreling or challenging to fight someone, or fighting. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2024 Mourners held funeral prayers for Samer Abu Daqqa, a Palestinian journalist working for broadcaster Al Jazeera who was killed Friday in an Israeli strike. Julia Frankel, arkansasonline.com, 17 Dec. 2023 This moment from the book is a breath of comedic relief for readers as fictional characters Celie, outspoken Sofia and her husband Harpo make funeral arrangements for Sofia’s mother. Briana A. Thomas, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Dec. 2023
Noun
And a day goes by, and artillery, but my neighbor’s funeral passes along slowly, why rush at a time like this! Nasser Rabah, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Those songs have been the soundtrack for weddings and funerals, births and recoveries, and other life milestones for countless people. Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2024 This month, thousands waited in huge queues to attend Navalny’s funeral and for days afterward to lay flowers and leave letters at his grave. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Alexei Navalny's funeral goes ahead despite pressure Lithuania's authorities also blamed Putin's regime, with its counter-intelligence service saying the attack on Volkov was likely an attempt to damage the opposition ahead of the presidential election. Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024 The play is named after the favorite meal of the late church pastor Bernard Jenkins, whose funeral day has arrived. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Lady Gabriella and her husband commonly attended events with the royal family, from Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral in September 2022 to the Royal Ascot with King Charles and Queen Camilla over the summer. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 In the 20th and 21st centuries, the cathedral has hosted many important ceremonies, such as Winston Churchill’s funeral and Charles III’s wedding to Diana, Princess of Wales and parts of Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 Drivers should anticipate delays on Friday if traveling in the area of the funeral services and the procession. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'funeral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Late Latin funeralis, from Latin funer-, funus funeral (noun)

Noun

Middle English funerelles (plural), from Middle French funerailles (plural), from Medieval Latin funeralia (plural), from Late Latin, neuter plural of funeralis, adjective

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of funeral was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near funeral

Cite this Entry

“Funeral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funeral. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

funeral

noun
fu·​ner·​al
ˈfyün-(ə-)rəl
: the ceremonies held for a dead person (as before burial)
funeral adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on funeral

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