funeral

1 of 2

adjective

fu·​ner·​al ˈfyü-nə-rəl 

ˈfyün-rəl

1

: of, relating to, or constituting a funeral

2

: funereal sense 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

Synonyms

Adjective

• aching
• agonized
• anguished
• bemoaning
• bewailing
• bitter
• deploring
• doleful
• dolesome
• dolorous
• grieving
• heartbroken
• lamentable
• lugubrious
• mournful
• plaintive
• plangent
• regretful
• rueful
• sorrowful
• sorry
• wailing
• weeping
• woeful

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

Dido, after her lover Aeneas deserts her, kills herself with his sword on a funeral pyre, but not before building an effigy of him to burn alongside her. —Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024

The Associated Press reported that the funeral location was not made public in advance to prevent a large crowd from gathering. —Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024

Noun

The actual funeral was another hour away from Rome in a small Lutheran church. —Gwen Faulkenberry, arkansasonline.com, 5 Dec. 2024

Malik was in attendance at Payne's funeral on Wednesday, November 20, in Buckinghamshire, England. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing funeral

• funeral director
• funeral home
• it's (someone's) funeral

Kids Definition

funeral

noun

fu·​ner·​al

ˈfyün-(ə-)rəl

: the ceremonies held for a dead person (as before burial)

funeral adjective