Repast is a noun that means a meal, often a formal or notable one. Repass is a verb that means to pass again, whether that’s crossing a bridge a second time, a legislature voting on a bill again, or a student retaking a failed exam. On paper, they’re unrelated in meaning. In speech, they can sound close enough to blur together, which is why they’re so often mixed up, especially around funerals.
There’s one important wrinkle: in many US communities, “repass” is also used, correctly and intentionally, to mean the meal held after a funeral. That usage sits outside the dictionary definition of the verb, but it’s real, widespread, and worth understanding on its own terms. This guide covers both the strict definitions and that real-world exception.
Quick Answer
Use repast when you mean a meal, especially a formal one, such as a wedding repast or a funeral repast. Use repass when you mean the action of passing again, such as repassing a checkpoint, repassing a bill, or repassing an exam. The exception: if you’re writing a funeral program in a community where “repass” is the customary spelling for the post-service meal, that usage is correct within that context, even though it departs from the dictionary definition.
Why These Two Words Get Confused
Three things push “repast” and “repass” together in people’s minds.
They Sound Nearly Identical When Spoken — Repast is typically pronounced ri-PAST or REE-past, while repass is pronounced ree-PASS. Said quickly, especially in a spoken announcement or program reading, the difference is easy to miss.
They Share a Root Idea, Even Though They Diverge — Both trace back to Old French. Repast comes from repas, tied to the idea of feeding or taking nourishment, and further back to the Latin repascere, meaning to feed again. Repass comes from repasser, a straightforward combination of re- (again) and passer (to pass). The words evolved from related but distinct roots, which is why they feel connected without actually overlapping in meaning.
“Repass” Has Taken On a Second, Unofficial Meaning — In many US communities, particularly within African American church traditions, “repass” is the standard, expected word for the meal that follows a funeral service. It appears on programs, church bulletins, and invitations, not as a misspelling, but as an established regional and cultural usage passed down through spoken language long before most people ever saw the word written down.
Repast Vs. Repass At A Glance
| Feature | Repast | Repass |
|---|---|---|
| Part of Speech | Noun | Verb |
| Core Meaning | A meal, especially a formal one | To pass again |
| Formal Dictionary Use | Meals, funerals, ceremonies, literary writing | Travel, legal, and educational contexts |
| Folk/Community Use | Rare outside dictionary meaning | Widely used for the post-funeral meal in many US communities |
| Pronunciation | ri-PAST or REE-past | ree-PASS |
| Typical Contexts | “Funeral repast,” “wedding repast” | “Repass the exam,” “repass the bill,” “right to repass” |
What Repast Means
Repast is a noun for a meal, particularly one tied to a formal or notable occasion. Merriam-Webster defines it plainly as something taken as food, a meal, or the act or time of taking food. It’s not an everyday word; outside of funeral contexts, it’s mostly reserved for literary, historical, or ceremonial writing.
Examples:
- “Family and friends gathered for a repast after the memorial service.”
- “The monastery served a simple repast of bread and soup.”
- “The wedding repast featured dishes from three different cuisines.”
What Repass Means
Repass is a verb meaning to pass again, whether that’s physically retracing a route or metaphorically going through something a second time. It shows up in three main contexts:
Travel and Movement — Crossing a bridge, road, or checkpoint again.
“Travelers must repass through customs when returning to the country.”
Legal and Legislative Writing — A governing body voting on something a second time.
“The council may repass the ordinance next week after amendments are made.”
Education and Testing — Retaking something after an initial failure.
“He failed the test and must repass it next month.”
The Funeral Exception: When “Repass” Means The Meal
This is where most of the real-world confusion actually lives, and it’s worth treating as its own topic rather than a footnote.
In dictionary terms, “repast” is the correct word for a meal, including a funeral meal. But in lived, everyday American usage, “repass” is the word many people grow up hearing for the gathering held after a funeral, particularly within Black church and community traditions, where the post-service meal is a long-standing custom of fellowship and support. On programs and invitations in those communities, “repass” isn’t a typo; it’s the expected, correct term.
For anyone writing a funeral program or announcement, the practical choice comes down to audience:
- Use repast if you want the traditional dictionary term.
- Use repass if that’s the word your family, church, or community customarily uses.
- Use reception if you want a plain, unambiguous word that every reader will recognize regardless of background.
None of these choices is “wrong” in context. The dictionary distinction and the community usage simply exist side by side.
Common Mistakes And How To Fix Them
Mistake: Assuming “repass” on a funeral program is always a misspelling of “repast.”
Reality: In many communities, it’s the intended and correct word.
Mistake: “The agreement grants a right to repast over the land.”
Fix: “The agreement grants a right to repass over the land.” (Movement, not food.)
Mistake: “Guests are invited to a repass following the service,” written by someone who meant the dictionary spelling.
Fix: If you specifically want the traditional dictionary term, write “repast.” If your community customarily uses “repass” for this meal, your original sentence is already correct.
Everyday Examples
- “After the funeral, the family hosted a repast in the church hall.”
- “In our church, we always call it the repass, not the repast.”
- “The easement allows the neighbor to repass through the shared driveway.”
- “Drivers must repass the checkpoint on their return trip.”
- “She’ll need to repass the bar exam after this attempt.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “repass” ever correct for a funeral meal?
Yes. While “repast” is the dictionary term for a meal, “repass” is widely and correctly used in many US communities, especially in African American church traditions, as the standard word for the meal held after a funeral service.
Is repast a verb?
Not in modern standard English. Repast functions almost exclusively as a noun meaning a meal.
Is repass a noun?
Rarely. Repass is used almost exclusively as a verb meaning to pass again; it isn’t a standard noun in everyday US English.
Do repast and repass sound the same?
They’re close but not identical. Repast is typically pronounced ri-PAST or REE-past, while repass is pronounced ree-PASS. The similarity in sound is a major reason the two get confused, especially when spoken aloud.
What should I write on a funeral program: repast or repass?
Either is defensible. Write “repast” for the traditional dictionary term, “repass” if that’s the word your family or community customarily uses, or “reception” if you want the clearest possible word for a broad audience.
Conclusion
“Repast” and “repass” may look alike, but they belong to completely different corners of English. “Repast” names a meal, often a formal one tied to a ceremony or gathering. “Repass” describes the act of passing again, whether on a road, a border, or a shared driveway. Once you separate the food from the movement, these words stop being confusing.
