eulogy
Americannoun
-
a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially a set oration in honor of a deceased person.
-
high praise or commendation.
noun
-
a formal speech or piece of writing praising a person or thing, esp a person who has recently died
-
high praise or commendation
Commonly Confused
See elegy
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of eulogy
First recorded in 1585–95; from Late Latin eulogia eulogia and Medieval Latin eulogium eulogium
Compare meaning
How does eulogy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
At every funeral, there comes a moment when someone speaks about the life of the person who died. The speaker is delivering what is known as a eulogy. A eulogy is a formal speech that praises a person who has died. Usually a eulogy makes the dead person sound a lot more impressive than they really were. A couple of less common synonyms for this kind of "praise the dead" speech are panegyric and encomium. Sometimes the dead person was so unimpressive that there's nothing nice to say. And sometimes they were so awful that the only appropriate speech is a dyslogy that describes their faults and failings.
Vocabulary lists containing eulogy
March: Book One
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Hate U Give
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And the bar will be mixing up Halloween specials, including a neon green drink called The Eulogy, made with Midori, mezcal, green chartreuse, lime juice and Sichuan peppercorn tincture.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 21, 2021
But not always; the "Better Things" episode "Eulogy" shows how such exercises can be incredibly loving and genuine.
From Salon • Aug. 19, 2021
The other night I watched an episode of "Better Things" called "Eulogy" written by Louis C.K.
From New York Times • Nov. 24, 2017
Jonathan Chait, a former TNR writer now at New York Magazine, quickly posted “A Eulogy for the New Republic.”
From Slate • Dec. 5, 2014
Eulogy, indiscriminating eulogy, is simply an ex parte statement which can have no weight at all.
From Oscar Wilde by Ingleby, Leonard Cresswell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
