What does crematory mean?
A crematory is a place — or more precisely, a furnace within a place — where the bodies of deceased people are burned as an alternative to burial. In everyday usage, especially in the United States, 'crematory' usually refers to the whole establishment: a facility equipped with special high-temperature chambers designed to reduce human remains to ashes. In British English, the equivalent term is 'crematorium', and the two words are frequently confused simply because they are near-synonyms rather than different things. The word derives from the Latin 'cremare', meaning 'to burn', the same root that gives us 'cremate' and 'cremation'. Cremation has been practised since ancient times and became widespread in Western countries from the late nineteenth century onward, when purpose-built facilities were established. The term appears most often in obituaries, legal documents, funeral planning, and news reporting, and it carries a solemn, respectful connotation. Knowing the distinction between 'crematory' and 'crematorium' is useful for anyone reading about funerary customs on either side of the Atlantic.
nounA building or furnace where the bodies of the dead are cremated.
- A furnace or retort used to cremate human or animal remains.
- (chiefly US) A building or establishment housing such furnaces; a crematorium.
"The funeral procession made its way to the crematory for the afternoon service."
"The crematory operates by appointment only, and families may attend the committal."
"He was hired as a technician at the county's only crematory."
The plural refers to multiple such facilities or furnaces.
"The state licenses several crematories across its counties."
In much of the United States, people say 'crematory' for the whole building — while Britons almost always say 'crematorium' — yet both trace back to the same Latin root meaning 'to burn'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crematory
Crematory comes from the Latin verb 'cremare', meaning 'to burn or consume by fire', combined with the suffix '-ory' indicating a place associated with an action. The word entered English during the nineteenth century, coinciding with the modern revival of cremation in Europe and North America. It shares its root with 'cremate' and 'cremation', which come directly from the same Latin source.
Related word forms
How crematory is actually used
In American English, 'crematory' commonly denotes both the furnace and the entire facility, whereas British English strongly prefers 'crematorium' for the facility. The word carries a solemn, formal register appropriate to funerary contexts.
Easily confused with crematory
A crematorium is a facility with one or more crematories (the furnaces themselves), though in American English 'crematory' often refers to the whole facility while 'crematorium' is more common in British English.