Legal Definitions - obit

The term obit is a shortened form of obituary. It primarily refers to a notice or record of a person's death, often published in a newspaper, online, or through other media, which typically includes a brief biography and details about funeral or memorial services.

Historically, obit also referred to a memorial service held on the anniversary of a person's death, or the record of such an anniversary.

• Example 1 (Modern Usage - Print Media): After Mrs. Eleanor Vance passed away peacefully, her family submitted an obit to the local newspaper, which included a summary of her long career as a teacher and the details for her upcoming memorial service.

  Explanation: This illustrates the most common modern use of "obit" as a published death notice, providing essential information about the deceased and arrangements for their remembrance to the community.

• Example 2 (Modern Usage - Digital Media): The professional association posted an obit on its website for its former president, highlighting his contributions to the field and inviting members to a virtual tribute.

  Explanation: Here, "obit" refers to an online death announcement, serving the same purpose as a traditional newspaper notice but disseminated through digital channels to a specific community.

• Example 3 (Historical Context): In the monastery's ancient records, there was a ledger specifically for obits, meticulously noting the death dates of patrons and benefactors so that special prayers could be offered annually on those specific anniversaries.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates the historical meaning of "obit" as a record of a death date, specifically kept to observe an annual commemoration or service, reflecting its older usage.