Arranging a cremation often means reading contracts and price lists full of unfamiliar words. Funeral homes and crematories use industry terms that can make a simple decision feel confusing, and that confusion can cost you money. This cremation glossary defines the words you are most likely to encounter, in plain English, so you can compare providers and ask better questions.
We have organized the terms into logical groups: the cremation process itself, the paperwork, the products, and the memorial choices. Keep this cremation glossary handy while you review any funeral home's General Price List, and cross-check anything a salesperson says against these plain definitions.
How to Use This Cremation Glossary
Use this page as a reference, not a novel. When a provider hands you a contract, scan for the bolded terms below and read the matching definition. Pay special attention to anything labeled a fee, a container, or a service, because those are the line items that vary most between companies.
A few ground rules before the definitions:
- You can decline most add-ons. Federal law lets you buy only the goods and services you want, with narrow exceptions.
- "Basic" rarely means free. Almost every provider charges a non-declinable basic services fee.
- Ask for the price in writing. A verbal quote is not a binding price.
For a walkthrough of what actually happens from pickup to return of ashes, pair this glossary with our step-by-step cremation process guide.
Cremation Process Terms
These words describe the physical process and the people and equipment involved.
- Cremation -- The reduction of a body to bone fragments through intense heat, typically 1,400 to 1,800°F, inside a specialized furnace.
- Retort -- The industry name for the cremation chamber or furnace itself. When a price list mentions "retort time," it means the hours the machine is in use.
- Cremated remains / cremains -- What families receive afterward. These are processed bone fragments, not ash in the literal sense. Learn more in our guide to what cremated ashes actually look like.
- Processing -- After cremation, bone fragments are cooled and ground into a uniform, sand-like consistency in a machine called a cremulator.
- Direct cremation -- Cremation without a preceding funeral, viewing, or embalming. It is the simplest and least expensive option; see what is direct cremation for a full breakdown.
- Witnessed cremation -- A service where family members are present as the body is placed into the retort, sometimes with the option to start the machine.
- Alkaline hydrolysis -- Also called water cremation or aquamation, a water-and-alkali process that dissolves soft tissue as an alternative to flame cremation.
- Cremation authorization -- The signed legal permission required before any cremation can occur, covered under paperwork below.
Funeral and Paperwork Terms
Cremation generates required documents. Understanding them prevents delays.
- Death certificate -- The official legal record of death. You will need certified copies for banks, insurers, and government agencies. Our death certificates guide explains how many to order.
- Cremation permit -- A separate authorization, often from a county medical examiner or health department, confirming the death was reviewed before cremation.
- Authorizing agent -- The person with the legal right to authorize the cremation, usually the next of kin. Read who can authorize a cremation for the priority order.
- Embalming -- A preservation process. It is almost never required for direct cremation, and no state law requires it before a simple cremation.
- General Price List (GPL) -- An itemized price sheet every funeral provider must give you under the FTC Funeral Rule.
- Non-declinable basic services fee -- A flat fee for the provider's overhead and staff that you cannot opt out of.
- FTC Funeral Rule -- The federal regulation requiring itemized pricing and banning certain deceptive practices; see our FTC Funeral Rule explainer.
Common Fee Terms at a Glance
| Term | What it usually covers | Can you decline it? |
|---|---|---|
| Basic services fee | Staff, overhead, permits | No |
| Crematory fee | Use of the retort | No (if you choose cremation) |
| Transfer of remains | Pickup from place of death | Sometimes bundled |
| Refrigeration | Holding the body before cremation | Sometimes, varies by state |
| Alternative container | Rigid box used during cremation | No, but you pick which one |
Product and Container Terms
These are the physical goods you may be offered. This is where markups are largest.
- Alternative container -- A rigid, combustible box (often cardboard or pressed wood) that holds the body during cremation. A casket is not required.
- Cremation casket -- A casket built to be cremated, often simpler than burial caskets. See our cremation caskets guide before buying one.
- Urn -- The container that holds cremated remains long term. Materials range from cardboard to bronze; our cremation urns buying guide compares them.
- Temporary container -- A basic plastic or cardboard box provided at no or low cost to return ashes if you have not chosen an urn.
- Keepsake urn -- A miniature urn that holds a small portion of ashes, often used when family members divide remains.
- Scattering urn / tube -- A biodegradable container designed for pouring ashes during a scattering ceremony.
- Columbarium niche -- A recessed compartment in a wall built to hold an urn, common in cemeteries and churches.
Memorial and Aftercare Terms
Once cremation is complete, these terms describe how families remember their loved one.
- Celebration of life -- A less formal memorial gathering, often held without the body or ashes present.
- Memorial service -- A service held after cremation, with or without the urn present.
- Interment of ashes -- Burying or placing cremated remains in a cemetery, niche, or private plot.
- Scattering -- Releasing ashes in a meaningful location. Rules vary; read where you can scatter ashes legally.
- Cremation jewelry -- Wearable pieces that hold a small amount of ashes, also called memorial or ash jewelry.
- Cremation diamond -- A lab-created diamond grown from the carbon in cremated remains.
For ideas on what to do with the ashes themselves, our guide on what to do with cremation ashes covers dozens of options.
Cost Terms Worth Knowing
Money terms deserve their own list because they drive the total bill.
- Package price -- A bundled rate covering several services, sometimes cheaper, sometimes hiding items you do not need.
- A la carte -- Buying individual items separately, which the Funeral Rule guarantees your right to do.
- Cash advance items -- Third-party costs (like death certificate fees or clergy honoraria) the provider pays on your behalf and passes through.
- Preneed contract -- A prepaid arrangement made before death.
To see how these line items add up in the real world, compare them against our cremation cost breakdown.
Helpful Resources
Authoritative sources for the terms above:
- FTC: Shopping for Funeral Services -- your pricing rights and the Funeral Rule.
- Cremation Association of North America -- industry standards and terminology.
- National Funeral Directors Association -- consumer resources and statistics.
Related guides on this site:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between cremains and ashes?
They refer to the same thing. "Cremated remains" or "cremains" is the technical term, while "ashes" is the everyday word. The material is actually processed bone fragments, not the fine ash left by burning wood.
Is a casket required for cremation?
No. Federal rules require only a rigid, combustible "alternative container." Funeral homes must inform you that a casket is not necessary for direct cremation, though some families still choose one.
What does "direct cremation" mean in plain terms?
Direct cremation is cremation carried out soon after death without embalming, a viewing, or a formal funeral beforehand. It is the simplest and typically cheapest cremation option, and any memorial can be held later.
Why do price lists show a "non-declinable" fee?
That is the basic services fee covering the funeral home's staff and overhead. Under the FTC Funeral Rule it may appear on every arrangement, so you cannot remove it, but you can still decline most other add-on items.
What is a columbarium niche?
A columbarium niche is a small compartment in a wall, often at a cemetery or place of worship, built to hold an urn. It offers a permanent, visitable resting place for cremated remains without a full burial plot.
Where can I find a provider near me?
You can browse local, price-transparent crematories and funeral homes through our directory homepage and filter by your city to compare cremation options in your area.