# mortuary

/ˈmɔɹtʃuˌɛɹi/ (US) · /mˈɔːtjuːəɹˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mortuary
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. storage for the dead

noun · CEFR B2

a room or building where dead bodies are kept before a funeral or medical examination.

For teachers: a facility, often within a hospital or funeral home, where deceased bodies are stored pending identification, autopsy, or burial.

- The hospital staff moved the body to the mortuary while they waited for the family to arrive.
- The coroner requested that the remains be transported to the city mortuary for a more detailed forensic examination.

### 2. related to death

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

connected to death, funerals, or the burial of the dead.

For teachers: relating to the burial of the dead or the rituals of death; funereal in character.

- The museum displayed ancient mortuary masks used in royal funerals.
- The archaeological site revealed complex mortuary practices that suggested a highly stratified social structure in the ancient civilization.

### 3. historical church gift

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a gift or payment once given to a church when a person died.

For teachers: a customary gift or payment formerly claimed by the minister of a parish upon the death of a parishioner.

- In the past, the family had to pay a mortuary to the local priest.
- The legal dispute centered on an unpaid mortuary claimed by the vicar following the passing of the wealthy landowner.

Usage: Used primarily in historical or legal contexts regarding ecclesiastical law.

## Examples

- The hospital staff moved the body to the mortuary.
- The medical examiner spent the afternoon in the mortuary performing an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
- While the hospital's main wing was bustling with life, the mortuary remained a somber, clinical space designed for the respectful handling of those who had passed away.

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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.