undertaker

noun

un·​der·​tak·​er

ˌən-dər-ˈtā-kər,

sense 2 is

ˈən-dər-ˌtā-kər 

1

: one who undertakes : one who takes the risk and management of business : entrepreneur

2

: one whose business is to prepare the dead for burial and to arrange and manage funerals

3

: an Englishman taking over forfeited lands in Ireland in the 16th and 17th centuries

Did you know?

You may wonder how the word undertaker made the transition from "one who undertakes" to "one who makes a living in the funeral business." The latter meaning descends from the use of the word to mean "one who takes on business responsibilities." In the 18th century, a funeral-undertaker was someone who undertook, or managed, a funeral business. There were many undertakers in those days, undertaking all sorts of businesses, but as time went on undertaker became specifically identified with the profession of arranging burial. Today, funeral director is more commonly used, but undertaker still appears.

Synonyms

• funeral director
• mortician

Examples of undertaker in a Sentence

the undertaker wore black clothes and a solemn expression

Recent Examples on the Web

Then it was placed in the undertaker’s vehicle, which moved inch by inch through the dense crowd. —Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025

Heather’s husband Terry Dubrow arrives looking like Dodge City’s undertaker in a mid-calf black jacket and a bolo tie. —Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025

The funeral was closed casket—an uncommon thing for Catholics back then—because my mother did not want people to see the work the undertakers had to do to stitch my father back together. —Jon Michael Varese, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2025

Meet Paddy Lynch — undertaker and caretaker of a quirky collection of Detroit businesses. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for undertaker

• automaker
• boilermaker
• cabinetmaker
• coffeemaker
• troublemaker
• blackacre
• caretaker
• clockmaker
• dressmaker
• filmmaker
• homemaker
• icebreaker

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Kids Definition

undertaker

noun

un·​der·​tak·​er ˈən-dər-ˌtā-kər 

: a person whose business is to prepare the dead for burial or cremation and to take charge of funerals

Medical Definition

undertaker

noun

un·​der·​tak·​er ˈən-dər-ˌtā-kər 

: an individual whose business is to prepare the dead for burial and to arrange and manage funerals

called also mortician