mortuary

1 of 2

adjective

mor·​tu·​ary ˈmȯr-chə-ˌwer-ē 

-chü-ˌer-

1

: of or relating to the burial of the dead

2

: of, relating to, or characteristic of death

mortuary

2 of 2

noun

plural mortuaries

: a place in which dead bodies are kept until burial

especially : funeral home

Synonyms

Adjective

• dead
• deadly
• deathly
• mortal

Examples of mortuary in a Sentence

Adjective

the huge department store's mortuary atmosphere in its sad, last weeks of operation

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Jonathan Michael, a former NHS chief executive who led the inquiry, ultimately recommended surveillance cameras be installed in the mortuary and post-mortem room, and that non-mortuary workers and contractors be accompanied to the mortuary by another staff member. —Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 29 Nov. 2023

When mortuary workers came for her body, the others filed out silently behind them, Rhea Shapiro, a longtime friend who was present, recalled. —Alex Williams, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2022

Noun

Scott was among several defendants charged in what prosecutors have called a nationwide scheme to steal and sell human body parts from the Arkansas mortuary and Harvard Medical School. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024

Real ashes won't solidify and would stay brittle, said Faith Haug, who chairs the mortuary science program at Colorado's Arapahoe Community College. —CBS News, 20 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin mortuarius of the dead, from mortuus dead

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mortuary

1 of 2 noun

mor·​tu·​ary ˈmȯr-chə-ˌwer-ē 

plural mortuaries

: a place in which the bodies of the dead are kept until burial

especially : funeral home

mortuary

2 of 2 adjective

: of or relating to death or burial of the dead

Medical Definition

mortuary

1 of 2 adjective

mor·​tu·​ary ˈmȯr-chə-ˌwer-ē 

1

: of or relating to the burial of the dead

2

: of, relating to, or characteristic of death

mortuary

2 of 2 noun

plural mortuaries

: a place in which dead bodies are kept and prepared for burial or cremation