noun
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a person who mourns, esp at a funeral
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(at US revivalist meetings) a person who repents publicly
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of mourner
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at mourn, -er 1
Explanation
Anyone who is grieving for a person who has died is a mourner. Funerals give mourners the opportunity to remember and say goodbye to a loved one. While a mourner is anyone who mourns someone's death, the word is often used to mean "person attending a funeral." In some cultures, throughout history, professional mourners were people who were hired to publicly display their grief at the funeral of some well-known figure. Today, most mourners are family members and friends — people who knew the person well and grieve their death.
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:
Another mourner cited the product’s affordability, lamenting that Minute Maid’s frozen juice concentrates were “a must” for households that relied on WIC/SNAP benefits.
From Salon ● Feb. 6, 2026
Mexican mourner Maotzin Contreras-Bejarano in Marchesi, dressed all in black but with her lips painted the famous red, told AFP: "I really wanted to be here, I had to be here."
From Barron's ● Jan. 21, 2026
One mourner called KitKat ‘the best city bodega cat anyone could ever ask for. His lil pet requests meant a lot for some of us.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2025
Another mourner, David Ouma, said: "I learned from Raila is to be resilient, because Raila was always a very resilient leader through every election… he still rose to try again to try again."
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2025
A fair-haired woman stood at the door, draped in the polished jet and black lace of a mourner.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Another march is scheduled for Thursday evening from Sol to Maricarmen's former home in the upmarket Retiro neighbourhood, where candles and flowers have also been left by mourners.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
The Catholic service, conducted in Armenian, was open-casket, allowing mourners a final chance to say goodbye as they filed by the altar at the conclusion of the ceremony.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
Thousands of mourners lined the streets as the king's casket was transported to the royal tombs in Fort Portal where a private ceremony took place.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
"Words spoken in grief can cause pain, division and conflict. It can even destroy the legacy of the king we are mourning," he told mourners.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Three days later, Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church filled with mourners, the community offering its condolences and support to the young widow and her three adolescent daughters.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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