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: of, relating to, or constituting a funeral
2
1
: the observances held for a dead person usually before burial or cremation
2
chiefly dialectal
: a funeral sermon
3
: a funeral procession
4
: an end of something's existence
5
: a matter of concern to one : worry
if you flunk, it's your funeral
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Adjective
a slow and heavy funeral song
Noun
Only family attended the funeral.
His funeral will be held on Friday.
His cousin made the funeral arrangements.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alejandro Chacoff, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2023
But in the last couple of centuries, especially in Western countries, the practice has become toxic: From embalming fluids to casket materials, burials can contaminate soil and groundwater, and endanger the health of funeral workers.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2023
Services for Jerving begin with a funeral procession at 7:30 a.m. Monday from Krause Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 21600 W. Capitol Drive in Brookfield, to Elmbrook Church, 777 S. Barker Road, also in Brookfield.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2023
Princess Anne was the only female member of the royal family to take part in the funeral processions for the Queen.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 27 Dec. 2022
The queen was commissioner-in-chief of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and helping to lead the funeral procession in London were four horses with the RCMP Musical Ride that were gifted to her during her reign.
—Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2022
Her coffin then made its way through Central London in a funeral procession more than a mile long that involved thousands of members of the U.K.’s military.
—Time, 19 Sep. 2022
Family, friends and Chicago police officers on Thursday shared emotional tributes at the funeral Mass for Vásquez Lasso, who was shot and killed on March 1 while responding to a domestic 911 call.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2023
Her family gathered for a funeral Mass at St. Peter Church in Quincy Friday morning, a day after her husband attended the wake with their sons in tow.
—Fox News, 3 Mar. 2023
Maria Pasquini, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2023
Malachy transformed my mother’s somber Jewish funeral service into a lively Irish wake — at her request.
—Laurie Gwen Shapiro, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2023
His funeral service was attended by the restaurant's employees and members of the community in addition to the Khatib family.
—Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2023
More than 1,000 people attended Ical Seb’s funeral service in Chicago.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2023
The funeral service is at noon Wednesday with visitation starting at 10 a.m. at the funeral home.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 3 Mar. 2023
As Donnelly wished, there will be no funeral service.
—Tonya Alanez, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Mar. 2023
The 69-year-old O’Connell, who was found shot just before 1 p.m. Feb. 18 at his home in Hacienda Heights, is being remembered with three days of funeral services.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2023
Haakon's parents, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, attended the state funeral service for the late monarch at Westminster Abbey.
—Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 2 Mar. 2023
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Adjective
Urrutia allowed Teixeira to stay and accompany her, first during the wake at La Chascona, the poet’s house in Santiago, and then throughout the funeral procession toward the city’s main cemetery.
—Alejandro Chacoff, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2023
But in the last couple of centuries, especially in Western countries, the practice has become toxic: From embalming fluids to casket materials, burials can contaminate soil and groundwater, and endanger the health of funeral workers.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2023
Services for Jerving begin with a funeral procession at 7:30 a.m. Monday from Krause Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 21600 W. Capitol Drive in Brookfield, to Elmbrook Church, 777 S. Barker Road, also in Brookfield.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2023
Princess Anne was the only female member of the royal family to take part in the funeral processions for the Queen.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 27 Dec. 2022
The queen was commissioner-in-chief of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and helping to lead the funeral procession in London were four horses with the RCMP Musical Ride that were gifted to her during her reign.
—Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2022
Her coffin then made its way through Central London in a funeral procession more than a mile long that involved thousands of members of the U.K.’s military.
—Time, 19 Sep. 2022
Family, friends and Chicago police officers on Thursday shared emotional tributes at the funeral Mass for Vásquez Lasso, who was shot and killed on March 1 while responding to a domestic 911 call.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2023
Her family gathered for a funeral Mass at St. Peter Church in Quincy Friday morning, a day after her husband attended the wake with their sons in tow.
—Fox News, 3 Mar. 2023
Noun
According to ABC News, Feng had no family in the U.S., but her funeral service was coordinated by the Atlanta Chinese American Alliance and attended by around 100 people who were mostly strangers.
—Maria Pasquini, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2023
Malachy transformed my mother’s somber Jewish funeral service into a lively Irish wake — at her request.
—Laurie Gwen Shapiro, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2023
His funeral service was attended by the restaurant's employees and members of the community in addition to the Khatib family.
—Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2023
More than 1,000 people attended Ical Seb’s funeral service in Chicago.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2023
The funeral service is at noon Wednesday with visitation starting at 10 a.m. at the funeral home.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 3 Mar. 2023
As Donnelly wished, there will be no funeral service.
—Tonya Alanez, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Mar. 2023
The 69-year-old O’Connell, who was found shot just before 1 p.m. Feb. 18 at his home in Hacienda Heights, is being remembered with three days of funeral services.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2023
Haakon's parents, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, attended the state funeral service for the late monarch at Westminster Abbey.
—Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 2 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'funeral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Late Latin funeralis, from Latin funer-, funus funeral (noun)
Noun
Middle English funerelles (plural), from Middle French funerailles (plural), from Medieval Latin funeralia (plural), from Late Latin, neuter plural of funeralis, adjective
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of funeral was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing funeral
Dictionary Entries Near funeral
Cite this Entry
“Funeral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funeral. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
funeral
noun
fu·ner·al
ˈfyün-(ə-)rəl
: the ceremonies held for a dead person (as before burial)
funeral
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on funeral
Nglish: Translation of funeral for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of funeral for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about funeral
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