obituary

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

obituarist

2 of 2

noun (2)

obit·​u·​ar·​ist -chəˌwerə̇st 

-chər-

plural -s

: a writer of obituaries or the writer of an obituary

Synonyms of obituary

Noun (1)

• obit
• epitaph
• inscription
• memorial

Examples of obituary in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

The obituary doesn't create the exposure. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026

Alan Greenspan died Monday at 100 years old, and the obituaries have been kind. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 23 June 2026

The obituary for middle managers is familiar. — Brett Hurt, Fortune, 23 June 2026

He would often be spotted at local government meetings and organized against controversial state and local government actions, including Senate Bill 153, which required local law enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to his obituary. — Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (1)

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