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 of burial

• funeral
• interment
• entombment
• burying

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

Was it related to an elite Iron Age burial? —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026

In the years since, security forces have turned people away from ancient Persian burial sites on commemorative days. —Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026

Donovan and his wife, Christine, drove from Chicago to Florida for his father’s funeral Mass and burial. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026

It's believed the skeletons came from Gallic burials. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026

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