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

In the hospital’s courtyard, relatives wept over the bodies covered in white burial shrouds. — Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026

Archaeologists have determined the mounds served ceremonial, spiritual and burial functions, though many details of their cultural significance remain a mystery. — Joe Yogerst, CNN Money, 27 June 2026

Days are spent strengthening infection prevention and control, improving laboratory capacity, training health care workers, tracing contacts, meeting with community leaders, supporting safe and dignified burials, and working alongside ministries of health and international partners. — Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 26 June 2026

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to visit and bring their children next month, and People reported that the family of four might visit Diana’s burial site. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 26 June 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

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

Kids Definition

burial

noun

buri·​al ˈber-ē-əl 

: the act of burying