dirge

noun

ˈdərj 

1

: a song or hymn of grief or lamentation

especially : one intended to accompany funeral or memorial rites

a funeral dirge

2

: a slow, solemn, and mournful piece of music

3

: something (such as a poem) that has the qualities of a dirge

dirgelike

ˈdərj-ˌlīk 

adjective

Did you know?

The meaning of English dirge is not directly related to the meaning of the Latin word it comes from. Dirge and its earlier form dirige, meaning "a song or hymn of mourning," come from the first word of a Latin chant used in the church service for the dead: "Dirige, Domine deus meus, in conspectu tuo viam meam." (Direct, O Lord my God, my way in thy sight). Because hymns and chants were often referred to by their first words, dirge became the common word for this chant. Later it was used for any slow, solemn piece of music.

Synonyms of dirge

• lament
• elegy
• requiem

Examples of dirge in a Sentence

bagpipes played a haunting dirge at the funeral for the fallen leader

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the starting point of Earth 7, Deb Olin Unferth’s stellar and sweeping science fiction novel that is part cosmic comedy and part dirge to our dying world. —Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

The already dirge-like film downshifts further, towards a more pleasant state of repose, as Robin convalesces. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 June 2026

This offers respite from the music ever feeling too dirge-like. —Brendan Hay, SPIN, 1 May 2026

The pioneering alt-country band returns with its first album in 30 years—a set of cryptic, languid dirges that feels defiantly out-of-time. —Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dirige, the Office of the Dead, from the first word of a Late Latin antiphon, from Latin, imperative of dirigere to direct — more at dress

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dirge

• merge
• purge
• scourge
• serge
• splurge
• spurge
• sturge
• surge
• urge
• verge
• converge
• diverge

Kids Definition

dirge

noun

ˈdərj 

: a song or hymn of mourning

especially : one intended for funeral or memorial ceremonies

Etymology

Middle English dirige "service performed when someone dies," from Latin dirige "direct," first word in a prayer for the dead, from earlier dirigere "to direct"

Word Origin

The meaning of English dirge is not directly related to the meaning of the Latin word it comes from. Dirge and its earlier form dirige, meaning "a song or hymn of mourning," come from the first word of a Latin chant used in the church service for the dead: "Dirige, Domine deus meus, in conspectu tuo viam meam" (Direct, O Lord my God, my way in thy sight). Because hymns and chants were often referred to by their first words, dirge became the common word for this chant. Later it was used for a slow, solemn hymn of mourning.