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funeral director

funeral director

11 3.9
A person who arranges ceremonies and prepares the body after someone dies
  • noun
  • /ˈfjuːnərəl dɪˈrɛktər/
translation icon : director de funeraria
  • Dear Adam, my name is James Davidson and I'm a funeral director in Beckley, WV.
  • a licensed funeral director
  • called a funeral director
  • asked the funeral director

Most states, like for for instance, in Kentucky, we have you can be either a licensed funeral director, a licensed embalmer or you can be both.

Examples

  • The funeral director arrived, and I drew him into the kitchen to explain the dynamics of the situation.

    Academic text (2010)
  • I'm the funeral director in town...

  • The funeral director was called and told of Mr. M.'s death.

    Academic text (2003)
  • I mean, you tell me what you want him to do, and I'll tell the funeral director.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The door was open, and the funeral director had prepared a stretcher for the baby to lie on.

    Academic text (2010)
  • I'd even asked the funeral director if there were a Florida law requiring my being there, some kind of witness.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • A funeral director appeared at Sue's side and slipped his hand under her elbow.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • I'm a funeral director.

  • Bernie Tiede (Jack Black) was the assistant funeral director in the rural town of Carthage, Texas.

    Blog text (26)
  • The funeral director helped the family plan a meaningful service for their loved one.

Synonyms

undertaker
vsfuneral director
31 5.5

A person who arranges funerals

is the fuller description emphasizing practical tasks like body preparation and coordination
mortician
vsfuneral director
28 7.9

A person who prepares dead bodies and arranges funerals

focuses more on organizing services and the whole funeral process
funeral undertaker
vsfuneral director
5.6

A person who organizes ceremonies and practical details after someone dies

includes preparing bodies and coordinating services as part of the role

Surface Forms

Morphology

funeral + director

The compound is directly compositional: 'funeral' (ceremony for the dead) + 'director' (person who manages) yields a person who manages funerals. The core occupational meaning is transparent and mirrored in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's basic sense (though not necessarily detailed tasks like body preparation).

Etymology

The compound noun funeral director comes from the simple image of a director who stands at a funeral and guides the ceremony. This person would guide the procession and arrange the details, so the name came to mean 'the person who arranges and manages funerals'.