cremation
noun
cre·ma·tion
kri-ˈmā-shən 
plural cremations
1
a
: the process of reducing a dead body to mostly tiny bits of bone resembling ash that involves exposing the body to flame and intense heat followed by pulverization of bone fragments
And while I do not conceive of an afterlife, I do conceive a strange, attenuated, out-of-the-body experience in which I'm somehow tenuously present at my burial or cremation.—
Rosemary Dinnage
Rosemary Dinnage… funeral directors say family traditions are changing, leading to an increase in cremation rates.—Matthew Waite
Matthew WaiteThis week the Vatican issued a directive not to scatter the ashes of loved ones after cremation, and instructed followers to only store them in places approved by the Church.—Mandy Johnston
Mandy Johnston
b
: alkaline hydrolysis
—usually used following an adjective or an attributive noun
The reason why flameless cremation or cremation using alkaline hydrolysis is better is that it releases 50 kgs of carbon. If you opt for the traditional method of cremation, close to 250 kgs of carbon is released at one time.—Vishal Sharma
Vishal SharmaIn a water cremation, human remains are placed within a chamber filled with about 70 to 90 gallons of water, into which bases like sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are added.—Bennet Goldstein
Bennet Goldstein2
: the remains of the cremation process
In Besik Bay, the sandy cove facing the island of Tenedos in the Aegean, a cemetery was found where a variety of foreign peoples were buried … . Included were cremations from the thirteenth century B.C.—Caroline Alexander
Caroline AlexanderExamples of cremation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Originally Published: February 6, 2025 at 8:01 AM EST
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A new form of cremations has come to CT.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2025
During the initial excavations, researchers found Iron Age cremation graves with grave goods, one of which had 51 beads inside, according to a Jan. 28 news release from Antiquity.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025
In a post on Instagram, tattoo artist Tay Nicole Clinch shared a bit of background about Meredith’s decision to get a cremation tattoo, which is when the tattoo ink is mixed with a loved one’s ashes.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
Officials in North Texas justified sending unclaimed bodies to the Health Science Center by saying the deals saved local governments the cost of burials and cremations, helped train students and doctors and supported lifesaving research.
—Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cremation
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Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2025
During the initial excavations, researchers found Iron Age cremation graves with grave goods, one of which had 51 beads inside, according to a Jan. 28 news release from Antiquity.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025
In a post on Instagram, tattoo artist Tay Nicole Clinch shared a bit of background about Meredith’s decision to get a cremation tattoo, which is when the tattoo ink is mixed with a loved one’s ashes.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
Officials in North Texas justified sending unclaimed bodies to the Health Science Center by saying the deals saved local governments the cost of burials and cremations, helped train students and doctors and supported lifesaving research.
—Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cremation
Cite this Entry
“Cremation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cremation. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cremation
noun
cre·ma·tion
kri-ˈmā-shən
1
a
: the process of reducing a dead body to mostly tiny bits of bone resembling ash that involves exposing the body to flame and intense heat followed by pulverization of bone fragments
b
: alkaline hydrolysis
—usually used following an adjective or noun
The reason why flameless cremation or cremation using alkaline hydrolysis is better; is that it releases 50 kgs of carbon. If you opt for the traditional method of cremation, close to 250 kgs of carbon is released at one time.—Vishal Sharma
Vishal SharmaIn a water cremation, human remains are placed within a chamber filled with about 70 to 90 gallons of water, into which bases like sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are added.—Bennet Goldstein
Bennet Goldstein2
: the remains of the cremation process
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