Memorial vs. Funeral
What Is Their Main Difference?
Both are gatherings related to the deceased. However, a 'funeral' is one that takes place after someone's death in order to grieve for the deceased. It can be in the form of burial or cremation. A 'memorial', on the other hand, is a gathering in which those close to the deceased remind themselves of the one they lost. It can be days or months after someone's death.
Differences
As stated above, a 'memorial' aims to remind people of the deceased. It can take place months after someone's death. There are no burials or cremations in it. Look at the examples below:
It is a memorial to honor her courage and boldness.
The government has decided to plan a memorial for all those lost in the Great War.
A 'funeral', however, mainly focuses on the burial or cremation of the deceased. It takes place shortly after someone's death. All the attendees wear black and it aims at grieving the loss of a loved one. Check out the examples below:
At my funeral, play Metallica and don't cry.
Why don't they serve liquor at a funeral?
Similarities
Both are gathering related to honoring and grieving the deceased. Take a look at the following examples:
They are planning a memorial for a killer who has murdered many innocent people.
There are many funny memes about funerals.
Are They Interchangeable?
Although they are both in the same context, they cannot be used interchangeably. A 'memorial' is a reminder whereas, a 'funeral' includes someone's burial or cremation. Compare:
✓ The City Council has has decided to hold a memorial for John Legend.
✓ The City Council has has decided to hold a funeral for John Legend.
This one is correct but is has a completely different meaning.
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