crematory

noun

cre·​ma·​to·​ry ˈkrē-mə-ˌtȯr-ē 

ˈkre-

plural crematories

: a furnace for cremating

also : a place where the bodies of the dead are cremated : crematorium

… to help families with the most complicated logistics: filing the death certificate, getting the body released from a hospital, transporting it to the crematory or cemetery.

—April Dembosky

crematory adjective

Examples of crematory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My office of the comptroller regulates crematories and oversees preneed sales of funeral services and merchandise. — Susana Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

Pointing fingers Unlike many states, Illinois splits regulations of funeral homes and crematories between two agencies, with IDFPR licensing funeral home directors and embalmers, and the Illinois Comptroller's office overseeing crematories. — Casey Toner, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

That permit, called a tenant improvement permit, is required for modifying or renovating the interior space of a commercial property and allowed the company to convert the former church into a crematory. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026

When looking to dispose of my retired flag, I was advised to call a local funeral home that has a crematory. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 3 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crematory

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• category
• clerestory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• feudatory
• gustatory
• gyratory

Kids Definition

crematory

1 of 2 noun

cre·​ma·​to·​ry

ˈkrē-mə-ˌtōr-ē, 

ˈkrem-ə-, 

-ˌtȯr-

plural crematories

: a furnace for cremating or a building containing such a furnace

crematory

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or used in cremation

Medical Definition

crematory

noun

cre·​ma·​to·​ry ˈkrē-mə-ˌtōr-ē, ˈkrem-ə-, -ˌtȯr- 

plural crematories

: a furnace for cremating

also : an establishment containing such a furnace

crematory adjective