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

His burial site, at Machpelah Cemetery in New York City, has long been a Halloween gathering place. — Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026

The monumental burial mound included a log cabin-like structure, one coffin, and the remains of multiple individuals and horse sacrifices. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 6 Nov. 2026

The drug was likely used in a burial ritual at a tomb discovered in what is now Siberia. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2026

This works only when communities are partners in recognizing illness, seeking early care, contact follow-up and safe, dignified burials. — Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 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