obituary

noun

obit·​u·​ary ə-ˈbi-chə-ˌwer-ē  ō- 

-ˈbi-chə-rē

plural obituaries

: a notice of a person's death usually with a short biographical account

obituarist

ə-ˈbi-chə-ˌwər-ist, 

ō- 

-ˈbi-chə-rist

noun

obituary adjective

Synonyms of obituary

• obit
• epitaph
• inscription
• memorial

Examples of obituary in a Sentence

I read her obituary in the newspaper.

several obituaries for Herman Melville portrayed him as an obscure, largely forgotten author

Recent Examples on the Web

He will be buried at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, according to his obituary. —Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 1 June 2026

The cause, according to her obituary in the Times, was complications of diabetes, and she was survived by two sons, one daughter, and two grandchildren. —Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Jamie Lee Curtis has shared her late older sister Kelly's obituary. —Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026

After cementing her legacy as a legendary comedian with a record-breaking show that will polish the lede to her future obituary, Deborah Vance is ready for her next applause. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin obituārium, noun derivative of Medieval Latin obituārius "of death, recording records or dates of death," from Latin obitu-, stem of obitus "death" + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at obit

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

obituary

noun

obit·​u·​ary ə-ˈbich-ə-ˌwer-ē 

plural obituaries

: a notice of a person's death (as in a newspaper)

obituary adjective