morgue

noun

ˈmȯrg 

1

: a place where the bodies of dead persons are kept temporarily pending identification or release for burial or autopsy

2

: a collection of reference works and files of reference material in a newspaper or news periodical office

Examples of morgue in a Sentence

old news stories found in a newspaper morgue

Recent Examples on the Web

Sam’s mother and uncle located his remains in the overflowing morgue of Behesht-e Sakineh, Karaj’s primary public cemetery. —Laura Secor, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026

The body of an Ebola victim is taken to the morgue of Nyankunde Medical Center for by health workers amid an outbreak of the virus, in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, June 13, 2026. —Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 16 June 2026

Proponents of the tax increase ran a digital ad showing a toe tag on the feet of a body on a slab in the morgue. —Susan Shelley, Daily News, 10 June 2026

Around that time, a body was moved out of a local morgue, and a coffin was burned. —Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for morgue

• bourg
• faubourg

Kids Definition

morgue

noun

ˈmȯ(ə)rg 

1

: a place where the bodies of the dead are kept temporarily until they are identified or released for burial

2

: a department of a newspaper where reference material is filed

Medical Definition

morgue

noun

ˈmȯ(ə)rg 

: a place where the bodies of dead persons are kept temporarily pending identification or release for burial or autopsy

Legal Definition

morgue

noun

ˈmȯrg 

: a place where the bodies of persons found dead are kept until identified and claimed by relatives or released for burial or autopsy