morgue

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'morgue' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a place where dead bodies are kept before being identified, stored, or prepared for disposal. Example: The detective visited the morgue to examine the body of the murder victim.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I realised the morgue was some kind of social thermometer.

The Guardian - Arts

In 1903, revelations about Poltpalingada's fate sparked a public inquiry that revealed sordid details about the illicit trade in body parts (skeletons £10 apiece) that flourished in Ramsay Smith's morgue.

The Guardian

When the Earth has stopped shaking and the waters have receded, when the wind has blown out and the bodies have been taken to the makeshift morgue (for natural-disaster morgues are always makeshift), what then?

The Guardian

Distraught relatives lined up yesterday at an improvised morgue in a bloodstained alleyway to identify some of those mangled and entombed in Saturday's quake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.

The Guardian

She trained in forensics and worked in a morgue for years.

The Guardian - Arts

Relatives gathered at a local morgue said one body was missing an eye and had facial bruising, another had its teeth knocked inward.

The Guardian

Warsaw was once a battleground, then it became a morgue.

The Guardian - Film

You people lack for personal growth, you know that?" – Freamon Murders: Quiet week at the morgue, still on 29.

The Guardian

One medic said he had taken 20 dead to the morgue, most of whom had been killed making their way out of the town.

The Guardian

Family members who arrived at the morgue in the state capital, Morelia, to retrieve the bodies echoed these doubts.

The Guardian

One woman looking for a pair of missing cousins showed up at the morgue in the half-buried Las Colinas district, only to find out that two children who matched their description had already been sent to a mass burial.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "morgue" in writing, consider your audience and the tone you want to convey. While it is a common term, it can evoke strong emotions due to its association with death.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "morgue" with related but distinct terms like "mortuary" or "funeral home". A "morgue" is primarily for identification and storage, while mortuaries and funeral homes prepare bodies for burial or cremation.

Linguistic Context

The word "morgue" primarily functions as a noun, referring to a specific location where dead bodies are kept for identification, storage, or examination. This aligns with Ludwig's analysis and the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Encyclopedias

7%

Science

29%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "morgue" is a common noun primarily used to describe a place where dead bodies are kept, either for identification, storage, or examination. Ludwig AI confirms that the word is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in contexts related to News & Media. While "morgue" is generally neutral in tone, it's important to be mindful of its sensitive subject matter. Alternative terms such as "mortuary" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired. When writing about "morgue", consider audience and intended tone as the term evokes a strong emotional response due to the association with death.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mortuary

A formal term for a place where bodies are kept.

dead house

A less formal, more direct term for a morgue.

funeral home

A business establishment for preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation.

necrotorium

A historical term for a morgue or charnel house.

crematorium

A place where bodies are cremated.

repository of the dead

A more descriptive and metaphorical term.

receiving room

Room in a hospital or funeral home used to receive and store bodies.

city archives

Referring to the archive division of a newspaper, similar to one definition of "morgue".

place of interment

A general term for where bodies are buried.

archive

Referring to a place where records or documents are preserved.

FAQs

How to use "morgue" in a sentence?

The word "morgue" refers to a place where dead bodies are kept. For example: "The detective visited the city "morgue" to identify the victim."

What is another word for "morgue"?

A synonym for "morgue" is "mortuary", which also refers to a place where dead bodies are kept.

What's the difference between "morgue" and "funeral home"?

A "morgue" is primarily for the storage and identification of bodies, often in a hospital or police setting. A "funeral home", on the other hand, is a business that prepares bodies for burial or cremation and provides services for memorial ceremonies.

Can "morgue" refer to something other than a place for dead bodies?

Yes, "morgue" can also refer to the archive of a newspaper, where background information is kept. However, this usage is less common than its primary meaning.