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Definition of mortuary
mortuary
/ˈmɔːrtʃuˌɛri/
mor · tu · ar · y
Plural:mortuaries
mortuary Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
2
Usage
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mortuary Game Scores & Validity
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Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A room or building in which dead bodies are kept temporarily before burial or cremation.
Example
"The hospital expanded its mortuary to accommodate the increasing needs of the community."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for mortuary• adjective
1
Of or relating to death, funerals, or the burial of the dead.
Example
"The museum exhibited an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian mortuary artifacts."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for mortuaryWord Nuance & Usage
While often used interchangeably with 'morgue', 'mortuary' typically implies a funeral home where bodies are prepared for burial, whereas a 'morgue' is primarily a facility for storing bodies pending identification or autopsy.
• Rhymes for mortuary
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Late Latin 'mortuarium' (receptacle for the dead), derived from 'mortuarius' (pertaining to the dead), which comes from the Latin root 'mortuus' (dead).
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mortuary. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mortuary