Glossary
Funeral & cremation glossary
Plain-language definitions of funeral and cremation terms — from direct cremation and embalming to the FTC Funeral Rule and veterans burial benefits.
A
- Alkaline hydrolysisAlkaline hydrolysis, also called water cremation or aquamation, is a process that reduces a body to bone fragments using heated water and an alkali instead of flame. The bone is then dried and processed into ash-like remains returned to the family.
- AutopsyAn autopsy is a medical examination of a body after death to determine the cause and manner of death. It may be ordered by a coroner or medical examiner in certain deaths, or requested by the family for medical reasons.
B
C
- CasketA casket is the container, traditionally rectangular with a hinged lid, in which a body is buried or sometimes cremated. Caskets are made from wood, metal, or other materials and vary widely in price depending on construction and finish.
- ColumbariumA columbarium is a structure or wall containing niches that hold urns of cremated remains. It is often located in a cemetery, mausoleum, or place of worship, and provides a permanent, visitable place for ashes.
- CremainsCremains is a common term for cremated remains — the bone fragments left after cremation, processed into a coarse, sandy material. They are returned to the family and can be kept in an urn, buried, scattered, or placed in a niche.
- CremationCremation is the use of intense heat to reduce a body to bone fragments, which are then processed into cremated remains and returned to the family. It is an alternative to burial and can be paired with a funeral, a memorial, or no service at all.
- Cremation authorizationCremation authorization refers to the signed legal permission required before a body can be cremated. It is given by the legally authorized next of kin or a designated agent, and crematories will not proceed without it.
- Cremation containerA cremation container is the rigid, combustible container that holds the body during cremation. It is usually a simple wood or cardboard box rather than a casket. The FTC Funeral Rule bars funeral homes from requiring you to buy a casket for cremation.
- CrematoryA crematory is a facility that performs cremations, housing the specialized furnace used to reduce a body to bone fragments. Some funeral homes operate their own crematory on site, while others send bodies to a separate licensed facility.
- CryptA crypt is a chamber, typically above ground in a mausoleum, that holds a casket. Families purchase the right to entomb a body in a specific crypt, often choosing between single, companion, or stacked arrangements.
D
- Death certificateA death certificate is the official government record of a person's death, listing identifying details and the cause of death. Certified copies are needed to settle the estate, claim benefits, close accounts, and arrange burial or cremation.
- Direct cremationDirect cremation is cremation that takes place soon after death with no viewing, visitation, or ceremony beforehand. It is usually the lowest-cost cremation option, and any memorial the family wants can be held separately, later, and anywhere.
- DispositionDisposition refers to the final handling of a body — most commonly burial, entombment, cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis. The method of disposition is recorded on official paperwork and usually requires authorization from the legal next of kin.
E
- EmbalmingEmbalming is the temporary preservation of a body by replacing its fluids with chemical solutions that slow decomposition. It is sometimes used before a viewing or for transport, but is rarely required by law and is not necessary for most funerals.
- EulogyA eulogy is a speech that honors and remembers the person who died, usually delivered at a funeral or memorial service. It is often given by a family member, close friend, or officiant, and may include stories, qualities, and shared memories.
F
- FTC Funeral RuleThe FTC Funeral Rule is a US Federal Trade Commission regulation that gives consumers rights when buying funeral goods and services. It requires itemized pricing, lets you buy only what you want, and bars certain misrepresentations by funeral homes.
- Funeral directorA funeral director is a licensed professional who arranges and oversees funeral, burial, and cremation services. They handle the body, coordinate paperwork such as permits and death certificates, and guide families through the choices involved.
G
- General Price ListA General Price List, or GPL, is the itemized list of prices a funeral home must provide under the FTC Funeral Rule. It lets you see the cost of each good and service separately so you can compare providers and choose only what you want.
- Grave linerA grave liner is a basic outer burial container that covers the top and sides of a casket in the ground. Like a burial vault, it keeps the ground from settling, but it is unsealed and usually less expensive than a fully sealed vault.
- Graveside serviceA graveside service is a ceremony held at the burial site, usually just before interment. It may be the only service or may follow a funeral held elsewhere, and is often shorter and more intimate, with readings, prayers, or final words at the grave.
- Green burialGreen burial, or natural burial, is burial that minimizes environmental impact by skipping embalming chemicals, metal caskets, and concrete vaults. The body is placed in a biodegradable casket or shroud so it can return naturally to the earth.
H
I
- Immediate burialImmediate burial is burial that takes place soon after death without embalming, a viewing, or a formal ceremony beforehand. Like direct cremation, it is a lower-cost option, and any memorial service can be held separately afterward.
- IntermentInterment is the act of placing a body or cremated remains in their final resting place, most often by burying a casket in the ground or entombing it in a crypt. The cemetery fee to open and close the grave is commonly called the interment charge.
- InurnmentInurnment is the placing of cremated remains into an urn, or the placing of an urn into its final resting place such as a columbarium niche or a grave. It is the cremation counterpart to the burial term interment.
M
- MausoleumA mausoleum is an above-ground building that holds caskets in crypts, and sometimes cremated remains in niches. It offers entombment as an alternative to in-ground burial, either in a large community structure or a private family mausoleum.
- Memorial serviceA memorial service is a ceremony to honor someone who has died, held without the body present. Because it is not tied to the body, it can take place days or weeks later, in any location, and is common after direct cremation or immediate burial.
- MortuaryA mortuary is a facility where bodies are received, prepared, and held before burial or cremation. The term is often used interchangeably with funeral home, though a mortuary can also mean a building focused on preparation and storage of the body.
N
- National cemeteryA national cemetery is a federal burial ground, most run by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, for eligible veterans and certain family members. Burial in a VA national cemetery includes the grave, opening and closing, a liner, and a headstone at no cost.
- NicheA niche is a compartment in a columbarium or niche wall that holds an urn of cremated remains. Families buy the right to place an urn in a specific niche, which provides a permanent, visitable resting place without an in-ground grave.
O
P
- PallbearerA pallbearer is one of the people who carry or escort the casket at a funeral, typically from the service to the hearse and to the graveside. Pallbearers are usually family members or close friends, and honorary pallbearers walk alongside without lifting.
- PreneedPreneed, or pre-need, refers to arranging and often paying for funeral or cremation services in advance, before death. A preneed plan lets a person choose their arrangements ahead of time and can lock in or set aside funds to cover the cost.
R
S
- ScatteringScattering is the dispersal of cremated remains in a chosen place, such as a garden, the sea, or private land. Where you may scatter is governed by state and local rules and by property owners' permission, so families usually check before planning.
- ShroudA shroud is a cloth used to wrap a body for burial in place of a casket. Made from natural fibers such as cotton, linen, or wool, shrouds are common in green burials and in some religious traditions that call for simple, biodegradable materials.
U
V
- Veterans burial benefitsVeterans burial benefits are services the US Department of Veterans Affairs provides for eligible veterans, which can include burial in a national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
- ViewingA viewing is a gathering, usually before the funeral, where mourners can see the body, often in an open casket, to pay respects and say goodbye. It may involve embalming or refrigeration to prepare and preserve the body for the occasion.
- VisitationVisitation, sometimes called a wake or calling hours, is a scheduled time for family and friends to gather, offer condolences, and remember the person who died. The body may or may not be present, and it usually takes place before the funeral.
These definitions are general information, not legal or financial advice. Prices vary by location and provider, and laws differ by state — always request an itemized price list and confirm requirements for where you live.