urn

noun

ˈərn 

1

: a vessel that is typically an ornamental vase on a pedestal and that is used for various purposes (such as preserving the ashes of the dead after cremation)

2

: a closed vessel usually with a spigot for serving a hot beverage

a coffee urn

Examples of urn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Two urns, labeled Mom and Dad, sit on his mantle. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026

The dealer, who purchased it at some point from an Italian dealer, voluntarily relinquished the urn to the FBI, who gave it back to the Italian Ministry of Culture. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026

Instead, some families received urns with concrete to replace dead people's ashes, and the Hallfords gave families the wrong body at least twice. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026

Museum representatives said the urn cast too big a pall over tours. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English urne, from Latin urna

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for urn

• berne
• burn
• churn
• dern
• earn
• erne
• fern
• hern
• hirn
• learn
• morne
• quern

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Kids Definition

urn

noun

ˈərn 

1

: a container that has the form of a vase on a base and often is used for keeping the ashes of the dead

2

: a closed vessel usually with a faucet for serving a hot beverage

coffee urn