urn

noun

ˈərn 

1

: a vessel that is typically an ornamental vase on a pedestal and that is used for various purposes (such as preserving the ashes of the dead after cremation)

2

: a closed vessel usually with a spigot for serving a hot beverage

a coffee urn

Examples of urn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mark Culbertson told Los Angeles television stations KTLA and ABC7 that his family purchased several urns through Amazon after the death of his grandfather last year, intending to eventually divide the late relative’s ashes among family members once his grandmother felt ready to do so. —Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 20 May 2026

Amazon told Culbertson that the company had been in contact with Truepoint Memorials, which sold the family the urn through the retailer, per KTLA. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026

The 17th-century reliquary urn was obtained by FBI agents on February 11, though officials did not announce its recovery until April 30. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026

The exhibition’s first wall presents a large photograph of Nicky holding their mother’s urn to set the scene. —Sarah Moroz, Literary Hub, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English urne, from Latin urna

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for urn

• berne
• burn
• churn
• dern
• earn
• erne
• fern
• hern
• hirn
• learn
• quern
• spurn

Video

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Kids Definition

urn

noun

ˈərn 

1

: a container that has the form of a vase on a base and often is used for keeping the ashes of the dead

2

: a closed vessel usually with a faucet for serving a hot beverage

coffee urn