What does necrology mean?
A necrology is a list, record, or published collection of people who have died, often arranged chronologically or according to their prominence. The term can also denote a book or newspaper section containing notices and brief accounts of deaths. It is distinct from an obituary, which usually concerns a single person: an obituary is an individual notice or life summary, while a necrology gathers such deaths into one record. The word has a formal, literary, and sometimes historical character, making it more natural in archival, commemorative, or publishing contexts than in casual conversation. Its unusual history comes from the Greek roots for “dead” and “study,” so although it now denotes a list of deceased people rather than a scholarly investigation, its literal ancestry conveys the idea of studying or recording the dead. A necrology can therefore function as both a factual register of loss and a collective record of a community, profession, or historical period.
nounA list, record, or collection of people who have died, especially one arranged chronologically or published periodically. In historical usage, it can also refer to a record or book containing accounts of deaths and obituaries.
- A list, record, or collection of people who have died.
- A book, periodical section, or other record containing notices or accounts of deaths.
"The newspaper published a necrology of notable people who had died during the year."
"The annual necrology recorded the deaths of several distinguished members of the society."
"Newspaper archives preserve an extensive necrology of local figures whose obituaries appeared during the twentieth century."
The plural is used for multiple records or collections of deaths and is especially appropriate when referring to separate periodical or annual listings.
"The archive contains annual necrologies from several local newspapers."
Necrology literally means “study of the dead,” but the word is more often a dignified record of lives that have ended.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of necrology
Necrology was formed from Greek nekros, meaning “dead,” and the combining form -logia, meaning “study of.” The resulting Greek term referred to a register or account of the dead and was borrowed into English for records and collections of deaths. Its sense developed alongside historical books and periodicals that recorded notable deaths and supplied brief biographical notices.
Related word forms
How necrology is actually used
The word is formal, literary, and somewhat historical in tone. It is much less common in everyday speech than “obituary” and often suggests a formal list, register, or published collection of deaths.
Easily confused with necrology
An obituary is usually a notice or article about one person's life and death, whereas a necrology is a list or collection of deaths.