crematory

noun

cre·​ma·​to·​ry ˈkrē-mə-ˌtȯr-ē 

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

But about a third of those want to see everything, from the plain-but-clean room lined with cabinets and counters where the deceased are prepared for services, to the massive, gray crematory that looks similar to a metal shipping container. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026

Even though cremations have risen steadily in the past decade, the actual number of crematories in the state increased by only three, from 19 in 2015 to 21 in 2025. —Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2026

Additionally, between 2021 and 2023, there was a 5.2% increase in licensed crematories in the United States, and 57 locations were reported in Arizona. —Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 3 Nov. 2025

The owners are accused of overcharging in categories such as crematory fees, refrigeration fees, sales tax and several others. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crematory

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• category
• clerestory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• extempore
• feudatory
• gustatory

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

cre·​ma·​to·​ry ˈkrē-mə-ˌtōr-ē, ˈkrem-ə-, -ˌtȯr- 

plural crematories

: a furnace for cremating

also : an establishment containing such a furnace

crematory adjective