Synonyms

cremation

American

[kri-mey-shuhn] / krɪˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

the act of reducing a dead body to ashes by fire, especially as a funeral rite.

The others in the family want to have a private cremation, followed by a memorial service where we scatter the ashes.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

cremations

plural

Etymology

Origin of cremation

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin cremātiōn-, stem of cremātiō; see cremate ( def. ), -ion ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Finally, the family secured an official death certificate and arranged for the cremation of Carleydi Lozada, 43, mother of two.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026

Doctors and forensic experts in the port examined bodies under tarpaulins held up by four poles before issuing death certificates and cremation authorizations.

From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026

The firm also owns Batesville, a company that makes caskets and cremation urns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

The options go way beyond burial and cremation.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

His cremation was attended by all the boxers in Bengal.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023