burial

noun

buri·​al ˈber-ē-əl 

ˈbe-rē-,

 also  ˈbər-ē-

often attributive

1

: grave, tomb

2

: the act or process of burying

Synonyms

• burying
• entombing
• entombment
• inhumation
• interment
• interring
• obsequy
• obsequies
• sepulture

Examples of burial in a Sentence

They prepared the body for burial.

She wanted to give him a proper burial.

Did you attend the burial?

The law prohibits the burial of toxic substances without special permits.

Recent Examples on the Web

These burials are along the edges of the mounds, leaving much of the center of the mounds untouched. —Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024

The boy's body is set to be laid to rest Friday, with funeral services at St. Peter of Alcantara Church followed by a burial in St. Mary’s Parish Cemetery, both in Port Washington, Wisconsin. —Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 13 Nov. 2024

All five burials were discovered approximately four feet below the ground surface. —Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Nov. 2024

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the secretary-general of the supreme council of antiquities in Egypt, told ABC News that most of the wooden coffins and linen wraps that would have been customary for these kinds of burials were destroyed by ancient floods. —Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English beriel, berial, back-formation from beriels (taken as a plural), from Old English byrgels; akin to Old Saxon burgisli tomb, Old English byrgan to bury — more at bury

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing burial

• burial ground
• burial plot

Kids Definition

burial

noun

buri·​al ˈber-ē-əl 

: the act of burying