mortuary

adjective
mor·​tu·​ary | \ ˈmȯr-chə-ˌwer-ē How to pronounce mortuary (audio) , -chü-ˌer-\

Definition of mortuary

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of or relating to the burial of the dead
2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of death

mortuary

noun
plural mortuaries

Definition of mortuary (Entry 2 of 2)

: a place in which dead bodies are kept until burial especially : funeral home

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for mortuary

Synonyms: Adjective

dead, deadly, deathly, mortal

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of mortuary in a Sentence

Adjective

the huge department store's mortuary atmosphere in its sad, last weeks of operation

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Oregon Portland: Cremated remains found in a mortuary box on a Portland street belong to a World War II veteran who lived in a house that hs been demolished and who worked at a concrete and steel company that no longer exists. USA TODAY, "Rocket’s last blast, Alaska drought, million-dollar ham: News from around our 50 states," 23 Aug. 2019 Evidence in pictures Most of what is known about the festival is iconographic and comes from artwork found at the temple precinct of Amun-Re at Karnak, the Temple of Luxor; and the mortuary temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu. National Geographic, "Egypt’s pharaohs welcomed summer with this fabulous festival," 25 June 2019 Meals Included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: M.S. Farah, M.S. Mayfair, or M.S. Minerva Day 7: West Bank of Luxor/Isnâ Lock Sail to the West Bank of Luxor this morning and step ashore to explore the Ramesseum—Ramses II’s mortuary temple. National Geographic, "Egypt Private Expedition," 12 June 2019 The original hit-and-run involving the pickup and the mortuary van occurred on Massachusetts Avenue in Lemon Grove, authorities said. Pauline Repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Mortuary van with body chases hit-run pickup into downtown San Diego, where truck crashes," 6 July 2018 Cantrell Funeral Home was shut down and had its mortuary license suspended in April after decomposing embalmed bodies were found and other violations were discovered. Corey Williams, The Seattle Times, "Police to file criminal complaint after fetus remains found," 16 Oct. 2018 In a particularly heart-stopping turn of events, Shay appears at one point to be locked inside the mortuary refrigerator with the demon-girl — an image that will certainly be haunting viewers for the rest of their days. Andrea Park, Teen Vogue, "Shay Mitchell's New Thriller "The Possession of Hannah Grace" Releases First Trailer," 15 Oct. 2018 Two mortuary employees took cover in a room downstairs before police arrived and arrested Incognito. Fox News, "Richie Incognito, ex-NFL lineman, accused of threatening funeral home staff," 21 Aug. 2018 Thus, especially in slavery but for all people, cemeteries and mortuary ritual assert our humanity - human dignity - just as their desecration represents its denial. Washington Post, "Virginians work to breathe life into black cemeteries," 7 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Ashley Cupido’s body was still at the city mortuary, where the surge in violence has caused a backlog. Kimon De Greef, BostonGlobe.com, "As gang murders surge, South Africa sends army to Cape Town, and the city cheers," 13 Aug. 2019 Her agent helped her research mortuary science programs, and the two settled on AAMI. Joan Niesen, SI.com, "How Sylvia Fowles Balances Being a Lynx Star and a Second Life Dealing With Death," 8 Aug. 2019 Brooklyn's grandmother, Lasangna Ferguson-Fields, made a plea outside the mortuary for an end to the gunfire that has created so many roadside memorials to so many innocents. Journal Sentinel Staff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mourners weep for loss of Brooklyn Harris, 3-year-old girl killed in road rage incident," 23 July 2019 Another English police force in Wiltshire, west of London, said this month that two people were facing charges over a photograph showing Sala's body at a mortuary. NBC News, "Man arrested in connection with death of soccer player Emiliano Sala," 19 June 2019 Finally, families can be present for the cremation process during a witness cremation, which is often useful for concerns about mortuaries mixing up, misplacing, or not disposing of bodies properly. Ace Ratcliff, SELF, "6 Things You Should Do Now to Prepare for Your Own Funeral," 30 Aug. 2018 In Salt Lake City, firefighters from the two agencies Burchett worked for will escort the hearse to the mortuary. Fox News, "Procession set for Utah firefighter killed in California," 15 Aug. 2018 As police shared new details of the case, several hundred people crowded into a chapel at a mortuary in Scottsdale to honor Pitt with music, humorous stories and a Hebrew prayer of mourning. CBS News, "Retired detective's hunch leads police to suspected serial killer in Arizona," 5 June 2018 Roberts' body was brought to Premium Mortuary Services, the same mortuary FOX19 NOW has investigated twice in the past several months (after the state board fined them for multiple violations). Stefano Dipietrantonio, Cincinnati.com, "Woman's body has been at mortuary for more than a year," 1 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mortuary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of mortuary

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for mortuary

Adjective

Latin mortuarius of the dead, from mortuus dead

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for mortuary

mortuary

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of mortuary

formal : of or relating to death or burial

mortuary

adjective
mor·​tu·​ary | \ ˈmȯr-chə-ˌwer-ē How to pronounce mortuary (audio) \

Medical Definition of mortuary

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of or relating to the burial of the dead
2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of death

mortuary

noun
plural mortuaries

Medical Definition of mortuary (Entry 2 of 2)

: a place in which dead bodies are kept and prepared for burial or cremation

Keep scrolling for more