last rites
Americannoun
plural noun
Etymology
Origin of last rites
First recorded in 1925–30
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.
On the journey home from the first World Cup, Eisenbeisser contracted pneumonia and a priest was called to administer the last rites.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025
They are also trying to build consensus around subjects such as the last rites of repatriated remains.
From BBC • Nov. 18, 2024
On the morning of Sept. 11, while administering last rites to a firefighter, Judge, 68, was struck by falling debris and died.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 11, 2023
Four narrow caskets, recently pulled from the back of a covered truck, rested on stands under an insistent snowfall as an Orthodox priest performed last rites.
From New York Times • Feb. 15, 2023
Pariah kites dropped into nearby trees, to supervise the supervision of the last rites of the dead elephant.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
