funeral

[fyoo-ner-uhl]

noun

1. the ceremonies for a dead person prior to burial or cremation; obsequies.

2. a funeral procession.

adjective

1. of or relating to a funeral.

   funeral services; funeral expenses.

funeral

/ ˈfjuːnərəl /

noun

1. 1. a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

   2. ( as modifier )

      a funeral service

2. a procession of people escorting a corpse to burial

3. informal,  worry; concern; affair

   that's your funeral

Other Word Forms

• prefuneral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of funeral¹

1350–1400; Middle English (adj.) < Medieval Latin fūnerālis, equivalent to Latin fūner-, stem of fūnus funeral rites + -ālis -al ¹; (noun), from early 16th cent., probably < Middle French funerailles < Medieval Latin fūnerālia, neuter plural of fūnerālis

Word History and Origins

Origin of funeral¹

C14: from Medieval Latin fūnerālia , from Late Latin fūnerālis (adj), from Latin fūnus funeral

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be someone's funeral, to have unpleasant consequences for someone.

   If you don't finish the work on time, it will be your funeral!

see it's your funeral.

Example Sentences

I’m grateful to everyone who reads and shares this tradition, through all your family games, neighborhood feuds, sprained ankles, surgically-repaired shoulders, weddings, graduations, funerals, babies and at least three confused Aaron Rodgers franchises.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The couple, who kick-started the fundraising campaign with a £15,000 donation, have now established a charity for the church to be used as a place for weddings, funerals and events.

Read more on BBC

They solicited money on a crowdfunding website to pay for her funeral, which took place in October.

Read more on BBC

Robinson also said the report largely regurgitated facts already in the public domain, citing the controversy of then-Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill at the funeral of Bobby Storey.

Read more on BBC

The group called on its supporters to attend the mass funeral for its "great leader" Tabatabai which will take place in the southern suburbs, a densely populated area where it holds sway.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• burial 
• cremation