ossuary

noun

os·​su·​ary ˈä-shə-ˌwer-ē How to pronounce ossuary (audio)
-syə-, 
-sə-
plural ossuaries
: a depository for the bones of the dead

Examples of ossuary in a Sentence

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.
Small stone receptacles used for secondary burials, known as ossuaries, will be on display as well. — Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2024 The city’s extensive labyrinth of catacombs was nearby as well, underground ossuaries crammed full of the skeletal remains of millions of Parisians. — Anelise Chen june 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025 Image Most of the mausoleums still belong in private hands; if family leases are not renewed, remains are discreetly removed to the ossuary. — Sadie Stein, New York Times, 15 May 2025 Depictions like these have only ever been found on ossuaries (chambers for storing human remains), and even then, those paintings usually only show two priests. — Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ossuary

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin ossuarium, from Latin, neuter of ossuarius of bones, from Old Latin ossua, plural of oss-, os

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ossuary was in 1658

Rhymes for ossuary

See All Rhymes for ossuary

Browse Nearby Words

osso buco
ossuary
O star
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ossuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ossuary. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on ossuary

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ossuary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All