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

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 20, at St. Rita’s Church, 2318 S. 61st St., West Allis, with a Christian burial and entombment to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 3801 W. Morgan Ave. —Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2024

My sister calls from her car on the way to do tahara—preparing a body for burial by washing it, in a ritual act of purification. —Erika Meitner, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024

As the cemetery ran out of room for burials, the pathways were filled in until the original layout could no longer be seen. —arkansasonline.com, 14 Sep. 2024

People may have their own personal reasons for preferring cremation over traditional burial. —New Atlas, 2 Sep. 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