What does the term "interment" mean?

The term "interment" specifically refers to the practice of burying a deceased individual in the ground. This process typically involves placing the body in a casket or an alternative container and then entombing it in a grave or other designated burial site. Interment can occur in various settings, including cemeteries or private properties, and is an essential part of many cultural and religious practices surrounding death.

While choices like cremation, donation to science, and preparation for viewing are all significant aspects of how society handles death and the deceased, they do not pertain to the act of interment. Cremation involves reducing the body to ashes using fire, while donation to science refers to the contribution of the body for medical research or education. Preparation for viewing includes embalming and dressing, allowing family and friends to say their goodbyes, but these actions are separate from the actual burial process defined by interment.