funeral

American  

[fyoo-ner-uhl] / ˈfyu nər əl /

noun

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

2. a funeral procession.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a funeral.

   funeral services; funeral expenses.

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!

funeral British  

/ 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

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funeral More Idioms  

1. see it's your funeral.

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Other Word Forms

• prefuneral adjective

Etymology

Origin of funeral

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

Example Sentences

A crowdfunding page set up to cover funeral and memorial expenses, the search for Vazquez’s dog Coco, medical and other costs offered some heartbreaking details.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

But the stadium has also served as a warehouse for food supplies, and Hezbollah held the lavish funeral there for its former leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel in September 2024.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Low property prices in the country mean that for many, it is more affordable to entomb the ashes of relatives in an empty apartment than pay for funeral costs.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The loss of small perks and rise of AI have conspired to strip work of all joy, making the office ‘feel like a funeral.’

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

I scrambled to my feet, hung my pajamas on a peg, pulled on my visitation dress, and slipped on my funeral shoes.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

Related Words

• burial
• cremation