obit
RareFormal, Literary, Archaic, Journalistic (in the sense of a short obituary notice)
Definition
Meaning
A record or announcement of a person's death, especially in a newspaper; a short obituary.
In ecclesiastical or historical contexts, a commemoration of a person on the anniversary of their death; a death notice.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
'Obit' is a clipped form of 'obituary'. It is chiefly used in journalistic contexts for brevity (e.g., headlines, column titles) or in historical/religious contexts. It does not refer to the funeral service itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, it can sound slightly dated, journalistic shorthand, or deliberately archaic.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. 'Obituary' is the standard term. 'Obit' might be recognized more by those who read newspaper death notices.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
write [OBJ] an obitpublish [OBJ] an obitread [OBJ]'s obitVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's not dead until he gets his obit. (A cynical/journalistic saying implying one's life isn't truly assessed until after death.)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical or media studies when referring to death announcements as primary sources.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. 'Obituary' is preferred.
Technical
Used in journalism as internal shorthand for the obituary section or a specific death notice.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He saw his grandfather's obit in the local paper.
- The newspaper published a short obit for the community leader.
- As a cub reporter, her first assignment was to write the obits for the evening edition.
- The historian pored over medieval obits in the monastic register to establish the precise date of the king's death.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'OBIT' as the 'OBITuary' you see in the paper, but with the long 'uary' part cut off.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A STORY / The obit is the final paragraph.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'похороны' (funeral). Obit — это письменное сообщение, а не церемония.
- Ближайший прямой эквивалент — 'некролог', но 'obit' часто короче и фактологичнее.
- Не переводить как 'смерть' (death). Это констатация факта, а не сам факт.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'obit' to mean the funeral service (incorrect).
- Pronouncing it /əˈbaɪt/ (incorrect; stress is on the first syllable).
- Using it in casual speech where 'obituary' is expected.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'obit' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, precisely. It is a clipping, used primarily for brevity in headlines, titles, or informal professional jargon within journalism.
Generally, no. 'Obituary' is the standard formal term. 'Obit' is marked as informal, journalistic, or archaic.
An obit (or obituary) is a written notice of death, often published. A eulogy is a speech praising someone, typically delivered at a funeral or memorial service.
It is included due to its specific utility in journalism and historical studies, and because it is a clear morphological clipping of a more common word, which is of interest to linguists and lexicographers.