"Definition of Physical Death"

Definition:

The complete and final separation of the soul (spirit) from the body.

Often used in a religious context. Religious sources cite Ecclesiastes 12:7 regarding physical death:

"...then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it."

After a physical death, the physical body decays and is resolved into its constituent elements.

Contrast Definition
Spiritual Death is the separation of the soul (spirit) from God. In the religious context, this is often considered to be of greater significance than the physical death.

Source: Keating C. 2002. Death: A Theological Position Statement. Available at: http://www.ntgreek.org/SeminaryPapers/systematic/Death.pdf