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

This sparked a bitter legal row with his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, who wanted to repatriate the body for a state funeral against the family's wishes.

Read more on BBC

"Some have lost family members... They need to handle funeral arrangements immediately and cope with their emotions at the same time."

Read more on Barron's

Kory's funeral will take place on Friday where there will be a performance of a song written by his brother Iosi.

Read more on BBC

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

Related Words

• burial 
• cremation