pallbearer

noun

pall·​bear·​er ˈpȯl-ˌber-ər How to pronounce pallbearer (audio)
: a person who helps to carry the coffin at a funeral
also : a member of the escort or honor guard of the coffin who does not actually help to carry it

Examples of pallbearer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After giving a statement to the deputies that morning, Pope arrived at his sister’s funeral, where he was supposed to be a pallbearer, just as everyone was leaving. Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025 The funeral of Pope Francis began with a short musical chant and psalm spoken in Latin after an open Book of the Gospels had been placed on top of Pope Francis’ closed coffin carried by pallbearers from inside St. Peter’s and placed on a red carpet on the edge of the church steps. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Apr. 2025 The rabbi chants the prayer for the dead; six pallbearers lift the coffin and take it out to the waiting hearse. David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025 In a TikTok posted Wednesday, the brand showed Duo being carried in a body bag by two other company mascots serving as pallbearers. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pallbearer

Word History

Etymology

pall entry 2

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pallbearer was in 1949

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pallbearer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pallbearer. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

pallbearer

noun
pall·​bear·​er ˈpȯl-ˌbar-ər How to pronounce pallbearer (audio)
-ˌber-
: a person who helps to carry the coffin at a funeral

More from Merriam-Webster on pallbearer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!