# morgue

/ˈmɔɹɡ/ (US) · /mˈɔːɡ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/morgue
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a place where dead bodies are kept before they are buried or cremated. It is usually located in a hospital or a police station.

For teachers: a building or room, typically within a hospital or police facility, where corpses are kept for identification or examination before burial or cremation.

## Examples

- The hospital staff moved the body to the morgue.
- The medical examiner spent several hours in the morgue performing an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
- In the aftermath of the disaster, the local gymnasium was converted into a temporary morgue to accommodate the high number of casualties awaiting identification by their families.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.