What does reburial mean?
Reburial means the act of burying someone or something again. It is most often used for the second or subsequent interment of human remains, such as when bones are returned to a community or placed back in a burial place after archaeological study or earlier removal. The word can also refer more broadly to putting objects or other materials back into the ground. Unlike “burial,” which can describe the original act of interment, “reburial” specifically emphasizes repetition or return. In public and cultural discussions, the term may involve questions of identity, historical justice, ancestry, and respect for the wishes of families or communities.
nounThe act of burying someone or something again, especially the return of human remains to the ground for a second burial. The term is also used more broadly for the reinterment of remains or objects.
- The act of burying again, especially the burial of human remains for a second time.
- The reinterment of remains or other objects in a new or different location.
"The ceremony for the reburial of the remains was held at the family cemetery."
"The museum arranged the reburial of the bones with representatives of the local Indigenous community."
"After several years of archaeological study, the remains were returned for reburial in the hillside where they were originally found."
The plural is used for multiple acts or events of reburial.
"The reburials of the remains took place in separate ceremonies."
A reburial gives remains a second chapter in the story of burial, often returning them to a place or community with lasting significance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reburial come from?
Reburial was formed in English by combining the prefix “re-,” meaning again, with “burial.” “Burial” itself comes from the Old English “byrġel,” meaning a place of burial or a grave, ultimately related to Old English “byrġan,” “to bury.” The compound therefore preserves the idea of burial while adding the sense of a repeated or renewed act.
Related word forms
How reburial is actually used
The word is relatively formal and is especially common in legal, historical, archaeological, and commemorative contexts. In discussions of human remains, it can carry emotional and cultural significance and is often used where the remains are being returned to their original community or place.
Easily confused with reburial
A burial is the initial act of interment, whereas a reburial is a second or subsequent interment, often following exhumation or removal.