What does interment mean?
Interment is a formal word for the burial of a dead body, particularly the placing of remains in a grave, tomb, crypt, or vault. It can refer to the physical act of burial itself or to a formal funerary event associated with it. The term is frequently found in historical and archaeological writing, religious contexts, legal documents, and accounts of state or military funerals. Unlike the broader and more everyday word “burial,” interment often suggests a deliberate or ceremonially significant placement of the body. It should not be confused with “internment,” which means detention or imprisonment. Though interment is usually used as an uncountable noun, plural forms are possible when referring to separate acts of burial. The word gives precise, elevated language to discussions of how the dead are laid to rest.
nounThe burial of a dead body, especially in a grave or tomb. It may also refer more broadly to the placing of a body in a final resting place.
- The burial of a dead body, especially in a grave or tomb.
- The act of placing a body in a final resting place, often with funerary ceremony.
"The interment took place in the family vault after a private funeral service."
"The interment of the remains was conducted with full military honours."
"Archaeologists discovered evidence of interment beneath the floor of the ancient church."
Rare; the noun is usually used in the singular or as an uncountable mass noun when referring to the act of burial.
"The record lists the interments of several members of the family."
While “internment” can mean detention, “interment” comes from the more solemn world of graves and final resting places.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does interment come from?
The word entered English through Old French enterrement, which was derived from Latin intermentum, a term associated with burial or putting a body into the earth. Its ultimate formation involves the Latin prefix inter-, meaning “between” or “into,” in a sense connected with placing something within the earth. The modern form developed through Middle English usage and remains especially associated with formal descriptions of burial.
How interment is actually used
This is a formal term, commonly used in legal, historical, religious, and archaeological contexts. It is more specific than the general word “burial” and often implies placing a body in a grave, tomb, or other prepared resting place.
Easily confused with interment
Interment means burial, whereas internment means confinement or detention, especially of a person.