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

But over the years, it’s morphed into the Islanders’ post-Cup room being a morgue. —Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2025

After the party, the group of 20 guests went down to the morgue in the basement of the hotel to beat the heat. —Angela Andaloro, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025

People at the scene pulled him back to the beach, but first responders from Costa Rica’s Red Cross found him without vital signs, and he was taken to the morgue. —Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 21 July 2025

At the morgue, Wanyonyi and Mwanga, Tiffany’s stepmother, faced their worst nightmare. —Ian Wafula For Cnn, CNN Money, 17 July 2025

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