morgue

noun

ˈmȯrg How to pronounce morgue (audio)
1
: a place where the bodies of dead persons are kept temporarily pending identification or release for burial or autopsy
2
: a collection of reference works and files of reference material in a newspaper or news periodical office

Examples of morgue in a Sentence

old news stories found in a newspaper morgue
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Collins also relocated to Chicago to be at the early epicenter of the crisis, which was at the Cook County morgue on the West Side. — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Two years later, politics had permeated our homes, our friendships, our classrooms, our morgues. — Abdelrahman Elgendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026 The following day — 48 hours after the deadly strike — the Kuvshynovs were told their daughter was at the morgue, Kuvshynov wrote in his affidavit. — David Folkenflik, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026 Roma then personally unloaded his son at the 30th Street morgue. — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for morgue

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of morgue was in 1795

Rhymes for morgue

See All Rhymes for morgue

Browse Nearby Words

Morgenthau
morgue
Moriah
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Morgue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morgue. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

morgue

noun
ˈmȯ(ə)rg How to pronounce morgue (audio)
1
: a place where the bodies of the dead are kept temporarily until they are identified or released for burial
2
: a department of a newspaper where reference material is filed

Medical Definition

morgue

noun
ˈmȯ(ə)rg How to pronounce morgue (audio)
: a place where the bodies of dead persons are kept temporarily pending identification or release for burial or autopsy

Legal Definition

morgue

noun
ˈmȯrg How to pronounce morgue (audio)
: a place where the bodies of persons found dead are kept until identified and claimed by relatives or released for burial or autopsy
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