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

The crematory, which was built in the fifties, shares a building with the executive offices, a columbarium, and two modern chapels. —Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025

Remains end up either in a niche purchased in the columbarium, or sprinkled on the cemetery's Memorial Green set aside for that purpose. —Heller McAlpin, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025

But on a dreary Sunday afternoon last fall, bouquets of white roses and blue hydrangeas enlivened the Spanish marble columbarium where Drakeo the Ruler is interred. —Jeff Weiss, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025

Regent Barbara Weitz suggested building a columbarium under the football field where fans could have their ashes inurned as part of Memorial Stadium’s next renovation. —Jayna Bardahl, The Athletic, 15 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, literally, dovecote, from columba dove

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for columbarium

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