crematory

noun

cre·​ma·​to·​ry ˈkrē-mə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce crematory (audio)
ˈkre-
plural crematories
: a furnace for cremating
also : a place where the bodies of the dead are cremated : crematorium
… to help families with the most complicated logistics: filing the death certificate, getting the body released from a hospital, transporting it to the crematory or cemetery. April Dembosky
crematory adjective

Examples of crematory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Two northern Colorado veterinary clinics are accusing a pet cemetery and crematory of fraudulent practices, alleging in a new lawsuit that employees disposed of pets’ bodies in landfills and mass graves while billing the clinics for cremations. Michael Braithwaite, The Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2024 Roselawn Funeral Home in Pueblo, Colorado, was a second crematory listed on a 2021 death certificate from Return to Nature. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2023 According to four death certificates viewed by the AP, a crematory owned by Wilbert Funeral Services was listed as having done the cremations of the bodies. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2023 The camp’s crematory worked round the clock to incinerate the hundreds who died every day, the court was told. Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2022 All list a crematory owned by Wilbert Funeral Services, but the deaths came at least five months after the company stopped doing cremations for the financially troubled Return to Nature Funeral Home last November. CBS News, 20 Oct. 2023 Families in Colorado may have received fake ashes from a funeral home where nearly 200 decaying bodies were discovered this month, according to information gathered by The Associated Press from customers and crematories. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2023 Mexican Mafia foot soldiers guilty of 2017 murder Oct. 13, 2023 Three other bodies were illegally cremated at the unassuming white-gabled funeral home on T Street, the funeral home’s crematory manager told prosecutors. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2023 Two staff members and a faculty member certify that the body is complete after it has been dissected, and the crematory staff does a final check. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crematory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crematory was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near crematory

Cite this Entry

“Crematory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crematory. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

crematory

1 of 2 noun
cre·​ma·​to·​ry
ˈkrē-mə-ˌtōr-ē,
ˈkrem-ə-,
-ˌtȯr-
plural crematories
: a furnace for cremating or a building containing such a furnace

crematory

2 of 2 adjective
: of, relating to, or used in cremation

Medical Definition

crematory

noun
plural crematories
: a furnace for cremating
also : an establishment containing such a furnace
crematory adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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