obituary

noun

obit·​u·​ary ə-ˈbi-chə-ˌwer-ē  ō- 

-ˈbi-chə-rē

plural obituaries

: a notice of a person's death usually with a short biographical account

obituarist

ə-ˈbi-chə-ˌwər-ist

ō- 

-ˈbi-chə-rist

noun

obituary adjective

Synonyms

• necrology
• obit

Examples of obituary in a Sentence

I read her obituary in the newspaper.

several obituaries for Herman Melville portrayed him as an obscure, largely forgotten author

Recent Examples on the Web

Knoll was Hartford High School's choral director for 40 years and received the Herb Kohl Fellowship for excellent teaching in 1991, according to her obituary. —Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024

Mosley, 51, had three children and four grandchildren, according to her obituary. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2024

Camps-Lacayo is survived by her father, mother, brother and sister, according to the online obituary. —Pilar Arias, Fox News, 28 Oct. 2024

Topics — and formats — include, among many others, letters to a doctor, fantasy therapy sessions, gossipy raccoons, obituaries, graduation speeches and much more. —Lizz Schumer, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin obituārium, noun derivative of Medieval Latin obituārius "of death, recording records or dates of death," from Latin obitu-, stem of obitus "death" + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at obit

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

obituary

noun

obit·​u·​ary ə-ˈbich-ə-ˌwer-ē 

plural obituaries

: a notice of a person's death (as in a newspaper)

obituary adjective