burial

noun

buri·​al ˈber-ē-əl 

ˈbe-rē-,

 also  ˈbər-ē-

often attributive

1

: grave, tomb

2

: the act or process of burying

Synonyms

• burying
• entombing
• entombment
• inhumation
• interment
• interring
• obsequy
• obsequies
• sepulture

Examples of burial in a Sentence

They prepared the body for burial.

She wanted to give him a proper burial.

Did you attend the burial?

The law prohibits the burial of toxic substances without special permits.

Recent Examples on the Web

Read Next World Soldier unearths 2,600-year-old burial site, Greek artifacts in Ukraine. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025

Only a few miles from Selena's burial site, a monument opened in her honor on May 25, 1997. —Jacqueline Weiss, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025

The burial chamber was uncovered at the base of a desert cliff almost 23 feet beneath Abydos, one of Egypt’s oldest cities about 300 miles south of Cairo and roughly six miles from the Nile River. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2025

The museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts excavated from Viking burial sites and settlements across Rogaland, including weapons, tools, jewelry, and everyday objects, providing valuable insight into the craftsmanship, trade networks, and social structures of Norse society. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English beriel, berial, back-formation from beriels (taken as a plural), from Old English byrgels; akin to Old Saxon burgisli tomb, Old English byrgan to bury — more at bury

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing burial

• burial ground
• burial plot

Rhymes for burial

• aerial
• areal
• ariel
• actuarial
• adversarial
• secretarial
• urticarial
• antimalarial
• biserial
• filarial
• malarial
• subaerial

Kids Definition

burial

noun

buri·​al ˈber-ē-əl 

: the act of burying