urn

noun

ˈərn 

1

: a vessel that is typically an ornamental vase on a pedestal and that is used for various purposes (such as preserving the ashes of the dead after cremation)

2

: a closed vessel usually with a spigot for serving a hot beverage

a coffee urn

Examples of urn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, some families received urns with concrete to replace dead people's ashes, and the Hallfords gave families the wrong body at least twice. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026

Museum representatives said the urn cast too big a pall over tours. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026

Sago Palms Fill large urns with sago palms, white Epimedium, and variegated ivy for a stunning arrangement to place by the front door. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026

The popularity of cremation brought us the contemporary columbarium, with its above-ground niches for urns. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English urne, from Latin urna

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for urn

• berne
• burn
• churn
• dern
• earn
• erne
• fern
• hern
• hirn
• learn
• morne
• quern

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Kids Definition

urn

noun

ˈərn 

1

: a container that has the form of a vase on a base and often is used for keeping the ashes of the dead

2

: a closed vessel usually with a faucet for serving a hot beverage

coffee urn