morgue

American  

[mawrg] / mɔrg /

noun

1. a place in which bodies are kept, especially the bodies of victims of violence or accidents, pending identification or burial.

2. a reference file of old clippings, mats, books, etc., in a newspaper office.

3. the room containing such a reference file.

4. any place, as a room or file, where records, information, or objects are kept for unexpected but possible future use.

5. such records, information, or objects.

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morgue ¹ British  

/ mɔːɡ /

noun

1. another word for mortuary

2. informal a room or file containing clippings, files, etc, used for reference in a newspaper

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morgue ² British  

/ mɔrɡ /

noun

1. superiority; haughtiness

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Etymology

Origin of morgue

1815–25; < French; name of building in Paris housing unidentified dead bodies

Example Sentences

They found him four days later in Tehran’s Kahrizak morgue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

In the morgue, a relative sobbed silently, his forearm covering his eyes.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

Qaiser said that officials were unable to help them, describing how his family had been told to visit both the burns centre and the morgue at different times.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

“We went to the morgue and there he was,” Irma said.

From Slate • Jan. 15, 2026

"Were there no autopsies scheduled at the local morgue? Was the federal prison just a bit too far out of the way?"

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• funeral home