burial

American  

[ber-ee-uhl] / ˈbɛr i əl /

noun

1. the act or ceremony of burying.

2. the place of burying; grave.

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burial British  

/ ˈbɛrɪəl /

noun

1. the act of burying, esp the interment of a dead body

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• reburial
  noun

Etymology

Origin of burial

First recorded in 1200–50; bury + -al ²; replacing Middle English buriel, back formation from Old English byrgels “burial place,” from byrg(an) “to bury” + -els(e), noun suffix ( cf. riddle ¹)

Explanation

A burial is the act of placing a dead person in a grave. It's a ritual of respect and closure. If your pet lizard dies, give him a proper burial by digging a little grave in your backyard. If you've ever been to a funeral, you've probably witnessed a burial — lowering a corpse into the ground. Though burying a body is physically like burying anything, a burial involves solemn rituals and deep respect. Often, religious services are given as the body goes under, and the family and friends gather at the burial to mourn the dead. A tombstone or other marker is erected after the burial.

Example Sentences

Moran and her husband, a marriage-and-family therapist, chose cremation over a full burial and service, which could have run $10,000 to $20,000.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Researchers have also recovered a child's finger bone and baby tooth, raising the possibility that the cave may have served as a burial site.

From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2026

Tedros has called on communities to work with medical staff after some residents attacked health centres over strict burial rules.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

But in Congo, relatives often insist on traditional burial practices, which include washing corpses to usher the dead into the afterlife.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

“They also found a burial chamber, didn’t they?”

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• funeral
• interment