columbarium

noun

col·​um·​bar·​i·​um ˌkä-ləm-ˈber-ē-əm 

plural columbaria ˌkä-ləm-ˈber-ē-ə 

1

: a structure of vaults lined with recesses for cinerary urns

2

: a recess in a columbarium

Examples of columbarium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Taking place on the Summer Solstice at the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, the event gathers dozens of the world’s preeminent experimental musicians to perform in a stunning columbarium designed by Julia Morgan. —Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 18 June 2026

When Patrick’s father died, two years ago, Patrick and his siblings divided his ashes among themselves, and a portion rested in a columbarium; the urn was small. —Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

The popularity of cremation brought us the contemporary columbarium, with its above-ground niches for urns. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 14 Apr. 2026

Later, the victims’ ashes were interred in a modest columbarium that the priest had built in a Catholic cemetery. —Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, literally, dovecote, from columba dove

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for columbarium

• aquarium
• herbarium
• ovarium
• puparium
• samarium
• solarium
• zoarium
• armamentarium
• cerium
• honorarium
• planetarium
• sanitarium