cremation

noun

cre·​ma·​tion kri-ˈmā-shən 

plural cremations

1

a

: the process of reducing a dead body to mostly tiny bits of bone resembling ash that involves exposing the body to flame and intense heat followed by pulverization of bone fragments

And while I do not conceive of an afterlife, I do conceive a strange, attenuated, out-of-the-body experience in which I'm somehow tenuously present at my burial or cremation.

—Rosemary Dinnage

… funeral directors say family traditions are changing, leading to an increase in cremation rates.

—Matthew Waite

This week the Vatican issued a directive not to scatter the ashes of loved ones after cremation, and instructed followers to only store them in places approved by the Church.

—Mandy Johnston

b

: alkaline hydrolysis

—usually used following an adjective or an attributive noun

The reason why flameless cremation or cremation using alkaline hydrolysis is better is that it releases 50 kgs of carbon. If you opt for the traditional method of cremation, close to 250 kgs of carbon is released at one time.

—Vishal Sharma

In a water cremation, human remains are placed within a chamber filled with about 70 to 90 gallons of water, into which bases like sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are added.

—Bennet Goldstein

2

: the remains of the cremation process

In Besik Bay, the sandy cove facing the island of Tenedos in the Aegean, a cemetery was found where a variety of foreign peoples were buried … . Included were cremations from the thirteenth century B.C.

—Caroline Alexander

Examples of cremation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Memoria is now focused on expanding into services like cremation and memorial planning, operational efficiency, and strengthening its position as a modern alternative to the traditional funeral industry. —Paul Klein, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025

Archaeologists determined that the Anglo-Saxon cemetery, which predates the royal burial ground, contained 13 cremations and nine burials in 2000 ahead of construction of the Sutton Hoo visitor’s center. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 24 May 2025

In 2018, Tarrant County entered into a contract with the Health Science Center allowing HSC to handle the bodies of county residents for whom no next-of-kin could be located and for relatives who could not afford burial or cremation. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2025

The business is the only one in the state to offer the more environmentally option for cremations. —Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin cremātiōn-, cremātiō "a burning," from cremāre "to destroy by fire, burn as an offering to a god, cremate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cremation

• flameless cremation
• water cremation

Rhymes for cremation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Medical Definition

cremation

noun

cre·​ma·​tion kri-ˈmā-shən 

1

a

: the process of reducing a dead body to mostly tiny bits of bone resembling ash that involves exposing the body to flame and intense heat followed by pulverization of bone fragments

b

: alkaline hydrolysis

—usually used following an adjective or noun

The reason why flameless cremation or cremation using alkaline hydrolysis is better; is that it releases 50 kgs of carbon. If you opt for the traditional method of cremation, close to 250 kgs of carbon is released at one time.

—Vishal Sharma

In a water cremation, human remains are placed within a chamber filled with about 70 to 90 gallons of water, into which bases like sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are added.

—Bennet Goldstein

2

: the remains of the cremation process