funeral

1 of 2

adjective

fu·​ner·​al ˈfyü-nə-rəl How to pronounce funeral (audio)
ˈfyün-rəl
Synonyms of funeralnext
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a funeral
funeral rites
2
: funereal sense 2

funeral

2 of 2

noun

1
: the observances held for a dead person usually before burial or cremation
2
chiefly dialectal : a funeral sermon
3
: a funeral procession
4
: an end of something's existence
5
: a situation for which one will have to suffer the consequences
If you flunk, it's your funeral.

Synonyms of funeral

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Adjective

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Examples of funeral in a Sentence

Adjective a slow and heavy funeral song Noun Only family attended the funeral. His funeral will be held on Friday. His cousin made the funeral arrangements.
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.
Adjective
More than a hundred people had gathered earlier in and around the church for a funeral procession. — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026 Other right-wing papers were carrying the stories too, and soon after Wessel’s funeral foreign diplomats were becoming deeply concerned by the dire state of the German economy and the rise of fascism. — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
On Sunday, Jordan’s Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah attended a funeral held for the victims while Jordan’s King Abdullah II visited the injured in the hospital earlier. — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026 Chiba's masterpiece series became so popular that fans even attended a mock funeral for the protagonist Joe Yabuki's rival. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for funeral

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Late Latin funeralis, from Latin funer-, funus funeral (noun)

Noun

Middle English funerelles (plural), from Middle French funerailles (plural), from Medieval Latin funeralia (plural), from Late Latin, neuter plural of funeralis, adjective

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of funeral was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing funeral

Browse Nearby Words

funebrious
funeral
funeral car
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Funeral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funeral. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

funeral

noun
fu·​ner·​al
ˈfyün-(ə-)rəl
: the ceremonies held for a dead person (as before burial)
funeral adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on funeral

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about funeral

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