ENGLISH
REFERENCE

funeral

n. · adj.
US //ˈfjunɝəɫ// UK //fjˈuːnəɹəl// fu·ner·al
  1. 1 burial ceremony (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a ceremony for a person who has died, where friends and family gather to say goodbye.

    a formal ceremony held for a deceased person, typically involving the presence of the body before burial or cremation.

    Example

    Many people attended the funeral to pay their respects to the family.

    Example

    The funeral was conducted with great solemnity, reflecting the high esteem in which the community held the late professor.

    Usage

    Often used with the verbs 'attend', 'hold', or 'conduct'.

    Teacher's tip

    While 'memorial service' is similar, a 'funeral' traditionally implies the body is present.
  2. 2 relating to a funeral (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    used to describe things related to a funeral, like a car or music.

    pertaining to or used at a funeral; often functions as an attributive noun.

    Example

    The funeral procession moved slowly through the quiet streets.

    Example

    The funeral director handled all the logistical arrangements with professional discretion and sensitivity.

    Usage

    Usually appears before a noun, such as 'funeral procession' or 'funeral director'.

    Teacher's tip

    Note that 'funereal' is a separate adjective meaning 'sad or gloomy', whereas 'funeral' as an adjective is more literal.
    • funereal
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French funerailles pl (“funeral rites”), from Medieval Latin fūnerālia (“funeral rites”), originally neuter plural of Late Latin fūnerālis (“having to do with a funeral”), from Latin fūnus (“funeral, death, corpse”), origin unknown, perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰew- (“to die”). Singular and plural used interchangeably in English until circa 1700. The adjective funereal is first attested 1725, by influence of Middle French funerail, from Latin funereus, from funus. First attested in 1437. Displaced native Old English līcþeġnung (literally “dead body service”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026