columbarium

noun

col·um·bar·i·um | \ ˌkä-ləm-ˈber-ē-əm

plural columbaria\ ˌkä-ləm-ˈber-ē-ə

Definition of columbarium

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

Inurnment will take place following the Mass at the indoor glass columbarium of St. Mary Cemetery, New Britain. — Hartford Courant, courant.com, "Carl J. Bienkowski," 12 June 2018 The 16,000 spaces in the new niche wall and columbaria are waiting. — Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, "Arlington Cemetery to open new section with space-saving pre-dug graves," 4 June 2018 The remains can be cremated, and the ashes can go into a columbarium niche for 30 years, renewable for 20 more. — New York Times, "A Chance to Spend 99-Plus Years in Venice (in the Afterlife)," 21 May 2018 There will be a funeral Mass in Marietta GA followed by interment in the columbarium at the Catholic Church of St. Ann 4905 Roswell Rd. — courant.com, "Jillian Leigh Bradley," 31 Mar. 2018 This place is called the columbarium, and at first, the very existence of this vast chamber full of urns can come as a surprise. — Caren Chesler, Popular Mechanics, "Burning Out: What Really Happens Inside a Crematorium," 1 Mar. 2018 About five years ago, Filer Cemetery added a columbarium with marble niches for urns. — Heather Kennison, The Seattle Times, "Small-town cemetery caretaker says he can’t do it alone," 25 Feb. 2018 The columbarium in All Saints Chapel is open to anyone in the community who would like to purchase a niche for their final resting place. — The Aegis, "Emmanuel Church celebrates 150 years of service to Bel Air," 10 Feb. 2018 Virginia will be cremated and inurned in the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC with her husband. — Orlando Sentinel, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Deaths in Central Florida: 2/4," 4 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'columbarium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.