interment

What does "interment" mean?
Interment refers to the act of placing a deceased person or animal into the ground, usually within a grave or a tomb. The mental image is one of a final, solemn placement, often involving a burial ceremony where the physical body is committed to the earth to rest. This word is almost exclusively used in formal or clinical contexts, such as funeral arrangements, legal documentation, or news reporting. Unlike "burial," which is a common, everyday term, "interment" carries a sense of official ceremony and respectful distance, making it appropriate for obituaries or cemetery management.
"interment" in conversation
Arranging a funeral
We have scheduled the interment for Thursday at ten o'clock.
We have scheduled the interment for Thursday at ten o'clock.
Thank you, will that be in the main garden?
Thank you, will that be in the main garden?
Used here to denote the formal scheduling of the burial ceremony.
Reading an obituary
Did you see that they are planning a private interment?
Did you see that they are planning a private interment?
Yes, just for the immediate family at the family plot.
Yes, just for the immediate family at the family plot.
Reflects the formal nature of the word when discussing private ceremonies.
"interment" in a sentence
The interment will take place following the service.
The interment will take place following the service.
The family requested a quiet interment in the ancestral cemetery.
The family requested a quiet interment in the ancestral cemetery.
Historical records detail the interment of the monarch beneath the cathedral floor.
Historical records detail the interment of the monarch beneath the cathedral floor.