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

This memoir looks at Caitlin Doughty’s journey as a crematory worker who cares for the dead. —Christopher Murray, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2024

The battle comes as San Jose is quickly running out of space for cemetery or crematory use between the three sites in the city at Los Gatos Memorial Park, Calvary and Oak Hill. —Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2024

In Colorado, one law passed in 2022 expands the state’s ability to inspect funeral homes and crematories. —Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2024

The clinics — Edwards Veterinary Care in Greeley and Western Skies End-of-Life Veterinary Care, which serves parts of Colorado and Wyoming — each discovered the malpractice in 2022 and have since ended their years-long contracts with the crematory, according to the lawsuit. —Michael Braithwaite, The Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

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