burial

noun

buri·​al ˈber-ē-əl 

ˈbe-rē-,

 also  ˈbər-ē-

often attributive

1

: grave, tomb

2

: the act or process of burying

Synonyms

• burying
• entombing
• entombment
• inhumation
• interment
• interring
• obsequy
• obsequies
• sepulture

Examples of burial in a Sentence

They prepared the body for burial.

She wanted to give him a proper burial.

Did you attend the burial?

The law prohibits the burial of toxic substances without special permits.

Recent Examples on the Web

But in the decades since, various construction projects have revealed smaller satellite burial groups of about 10 people, according to the release. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025

Funeral home director accused of taking grieving pet parents' money, dumping animals in landfill Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday says more than 6,000 pet owners were given ashes that did not belong to their pets after paying for burial services. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Francis, who took his name after Saint Francis of Assisi, was known for his outreach to the poor and those in poverty and that will be reflected in his minimalist burial at Saint Mary Major. —Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2025

A long time ago The human remains at the heart of the new study have puzzled researchers since the burial site was uncovered in 2010. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English beriel, berial, back-formation from beriels (taken as a plural), from Old English byrgels; akin to Old Saxon burgisli tomb, Old English byrgan to bury — more at bury

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing burial

• burial ground
• burial plot

Rhymes for burial

• aerial
• areal
• ariel
• actuarial
• adversarial
• secretarial
• urticarial
• antimalarial
• biserial
• filarial
• malarial
• subaerial

Kids Definition

burial

noun

buri·​al ˈber-ē-əl 

: the act of burying