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

The arrests are in connection with the death of the couple's daughter, Ruby, who died in March, according to her obituary. —Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025

She is survived by her father, Christopher Kepner, her mother, Heather Wright, Hudson, her stepmother, and seven siblings, according to the obituary. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 19 Nov. 2025

All the recent obituaries for videos are premature, just as all the hand-wringing over the decline of MTV seems extremely postmature. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2025

Burgess was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather; his wife since 1959, Deon Adair Rabb; and a daughter, Charmaine, according to the obituary. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025

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

Rhymes for obituary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

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