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

According to an online obituary, Bentley just graduated from preschool at First Presbyterian Church. —Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025

Among them was Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from Alabama studying French and Mathematics-Economics at Brown, according to her obituary. —Solcyré Burga, Time, 19 Dec. 2025

Sanderson received a Quantrell Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 1998, and held the distinction of teaching more students than anyone in UChicago history, according to his obituary. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

Then, in late October, Culpepper died at his home in Tellico Plains, according to an obituary published by a funeral home near his birthplace in Virginia. —Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 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

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