funeral celebrant

noun

A person who conducts funerals, memorial services, and similar ceremonies, but who is not a funeral director or a member of the clergy.

Meanings

nounfuneral celebrant (plural funeral celebrants)

plural funeral celebrants

  1. A person who conducts funerals, memorial services, and similar ceremonies, but who is not a funeral director or a member of the clergy.

    Demand for funeral celebrants has surged across Ireland, as more and more families look to lay their loved ones to rest in non-religious ceremonies.

    2016 February 22, Nick Bramhill, “More Irish opt for non-religious funerals”, in Irish Central
    3 more examples

    Marian Barnes pioneered the celebrant funeral alternative in this country in 1979 (a funeral celebrant replaces the priest or funeral director in facilitating a funeral or memorial service) and has now written a book which discusses funeral practices and provides self-help information on planning a funeral (Barnes, 1991).

    1992, Celia Briar, Superwoman, where are You?

    Funeral celebrant Justine Thompson - who spoke on behalf of his family - said the arrival of his baby daughter Aliyah forced him to grow up and change his ways.

    2013 November 29, Georgina Stylianou, “Family farewell 'proud and committed' young father”, in Christchurch Press

    I noted even high-school teachers - and funeral celebrants - have tattoos these days, which in a more enlightened era, I would have regarded as bordering on profanity.

    2017 February 18, “Death cafes: Are you thirsty? I'm dying for a coffee”, in New Zealand Herald
Cite this entry
APA

funeral celebrant. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/funeral%20celebrant

MLA

“funeral celebrant.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/funeral%20celebrant. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “funeral celebrant,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/funeral%20celebrant.

Source: funeral celebrant on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.