obituary

noun

obit·​u·​ary ə-ˈbi-chə-ˌwer-ē  ō- 

-ˈbi-chə-rē

plural obituaries

: a notice of a person's death usually with a short biographical account

obituarist

ə-ˈbi-chə-ˌwər-ist

ō- 

-ˈbi-chə-rist

noun

obituary adjective

Synonyms

• necrology
• obit

Examples of obituary in a Sentence

I read her obituary in the newspaper.

several obituaries for Herman Melville portrayed him as an obscure, largely forgotten author

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2022, declining subscriber numbers sent Netflix’s stock plunging over 50%, prompting many commentators to start writing its obituary. —Dev Patnaik, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

Her family posted an obituary to social media Friday afternoon. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2025

Nicholas Mangione's wife, Mary, died of Parkinson's disease complications at the age of 92 in March 2023, according to an obituary in The Baltimore Sun. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025

Find details and the family obituary at www.bergepappassmith.com. —Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin obituārium, noun derivative of Medieval Latin obituārius "of death, recording records or dates of death," from Latin obitu-, stem of obitus "death" + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at obit

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for obituary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

Kids Definition

obituary

noun

obit·​u·​ary ə-ˈbich-ə-ˌwer-ē 

plural obituaries

: a notice of a person's death (as in a newspaper)

obituary adjective