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Synonyms

funeral director

American  

noun

  1. a person, usually a licensed embalmer, who supervises or conducts the preparation of the dead for burial and directs or arranges funerals.

  2. a person who owns or operates a funeral home.


funeral director British  

noun

  1. an undertaker

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of funeral director

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

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.

See Examples For:

Anyone can set up as a funeral director without formal training, registration or mandatory oversight.

From BBC Aug. 1, 2026

She said without regulation of the industry, "in five or 10 years' time there will be another funeral director with another 300 families in a courtroom somewhere".

From BBC Jul. 31, 2026

Undertakers in England and Wales can operate without a licence, with anybody free to set themselves up as a funeral director.

From Barron's Jul. 27, 2026

Continuing on the funeral director's hearing, the Daily Express writes "families hear distressing evidence as rogue funeral director faces sentencing".

From BBC Jul. 27, 2026

He does not tell me he will call an ambulance or a funeral director, but instead asks me what I want for breakfast.

From "The Misfits" by James Howe

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