Interment Words and Funeral Terminology: A Simple Glossary for Cremation and Burial Planning

If you’ve ever opened a cemetery contract or a funeral home price list and felt your brain go a little foggy, you’re not alone. Families often tell us the hardest part isn’t deciding what feels meaningful—it’s decoding the language. “Interment,” “inurnment,” “entombment,” “opening and closing,” “right of interment”… the words can feel clinical at the exact moment you most need clarity.

This simple, beginner-friendly funeral terminology guide is here to help. Think of it as a calm translator: what the terms usually mean, where you’ll see them (paperwork, programs, and planning conversations), and why each word matters when you’re making choices about cremation, burial, and memorial items like cremation urns, keepsake urns, and cremation jewelry.

Why these words matter more now

Families are navigating more options than ever—especially around cremation. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 61.9% for 2024. That shift means more families are deciding not only “cremation or burial,” but also “What happens next?”—a question that leads directly into cemetery terms, urn terms, and service wording. The Cremation Association of North America reports a similar national picture and projects continued growth through the end of the decade.

And because cremation often comes with a longer timeline (you may have ashes returned before you’ve chosen a permanent resting place), families can encounter cemetery paperwork after the funeral home decisions have already been made. That’s where unfamiliar words can suddenly show up again—sometimes months later.

A quick map of where you’ll see these terms

Most of the vocabulary below appears in three places: the funeral home’s paperwork, the cemetery’s paperwork, and the printed materials families share at a service. Funeral homes tend to use terms related to disposition, permits, and services. Cemeteries tend to use terms about property rights, placement, and ongoing care. Programs and memorial cards use softer, more human language—but still rely on a few standard phrases that can help guests understand what’s happening.

If you’re also thinking about products—like cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, or pet urns for ashes—the terms in this glossary will help you match the “container choice” to the “placement plan.” A home display plan looks different from a columbarium plan, and both look different from a water burial or scattering plan.

Cemetery placement terms: interment, inurnment, and entombment

These are the words families most commonly run into on cemetery paperwork. They’re all about placement—where the remains will be laid to rest.

Interment (interment meaning)

Interment generally means placing human remains in their final resting place. Many cemeteries use “interment” as an umbrella term that includes both burial in the ground and placement in a mausoleum or niche. You’ll see it in phrases like “interment right,” “interment fee,” or “interment authorization.”

Inurnment (inurnment meaning)

Inurnment is a more specific word: it usually means placing an urn into a niche or other above-ground space. For example, Arlington National Cemetery describes a niche as the designated space where the urn is placed for inurnment. If you’re planning a columbarium placement, “inurnment” is the term you’re likely to see. Arlington National Cemetery uses this wording in its guidance for services.

Entombment (entombment meaning)

Entombment typically means placing remains in a tomb or mausoleum—often in a sealed crypt (for a casket) or a niche (for an urn). The International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association explains entombment as interment in a tomb or mausoleum, with placement in a crypt or niche that is then sealed.

Columbarium (columbarium definition)

A columbarium is a structure made up of small compartments (niches) designed to hold urns containing cremated remains. The International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association describes columbaria as indoor or outdoor structures—sometimes freestanding, sometimes part of a mausoleum or chapel.

Niche

A niche is the individual compartment within a columbarium or mausoleum where an urn is placed. Cemeteries often offer individual niches (one urn) and companion niches (two urns). If your plan is inurnment, you’ll want to ask for the niche’s interior dimensions so your urn fits comfortably.

Mausoleum

A mausoleum is an above-ground building or structure that contains crypts (for caskets) and sometimes niches (for urns). Some cemeteries have separate mausoleums for casketed burial and separate columbarium walls for urns; others combine them.

Crypt

A crypt is the specific space in a mausoleum designed to hold a casket. When families choose entombment for burial, “crypt” is the word you’ll see on the contract.

Urn garden

An urn garden is a designated cemetery area for the burial of cremated remains. It may include small markers, garden-style landscaping, and options for in-ground placement that feel less like traditional rows of graves.

Scattering garden

A scattering garden is a cemetery space where families can scatter ashes in a maintained area. Some cemeteries install a communal memorial plaque or engraved marker nearby, even though the ashes are scattered rather than buried in an individual plot.

Disinterment and reinterment

Disinterment means removing remains from an existing resting place; reinterment means placing them again in a new one. Families sometimes encounter these terms when relocating remains to be closer to family, or when moving an urn from a temporary space to a permanent niche.

Urn and container terms: what the vessel is called (and why it affects your plan)

When families shop for cremation urns, it’s easy to focus on style and material first. But the most important question is usually: where will the urn live? Home display, burial, a niche, or travel and scattering each call for slightly different choices.

If you’re starting with browsing, Funeral.com’s Cremation Urns for Ashes collection is a broad place to see the range of shapes and materials, and the guide How to Choose a Cremation Urn That Actually Fits Your Plans walks through the “match the urn to the plan” approach.

Urn

An urn is the container that holds cremated remains. Urns can be designed for home display, cemetery burial, niche placement, travel, or scattering. If you’re looking specifically for cremation urns for ashes, you’ll often see capacity listed in cubic inches—one of the most practical details in all of urn shopping.

Temporary container

Many crematories return ashes in a temporary container (often a basic plastic or cardboard vessel inside a bag) unless you’ve provided a permanent urn. This is normal and can give families time to choose a long-term option without rushing.

Keepsake urn (keepsake urns)

A keepsake urn is a smaller container designed to hold a portion of ashes. Families choose keepsake urns when they want to share ashes among siblings, keep a small portion at home while interring the rest, or create multiple memorial “touchpoints.” You can explore options in Funeral.com’s Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes collection.

Small urn (small cremation urns)

“Small” can mean different things depending on the seller, but in practice it usually indicates an urn intended for a partial amount of ashes. If you’re shopping specifically for small cremation urns, Funeral.com’s Small Cremation Urns for Ashes collection helps narrow the search to compact sizes while still keeping the designs dignified.

Companion urn

A companion urn is designed to hold the cremated remains of two people (often spouses or partners). You may also hear “companion niche” at the cemetery, which is the placement equivalent: one niche designed to hold two urns.

Cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces

Cremation jewelry is designed to hold a tiny portion of ashes (or, sometimes, hair or dried flowers). Some families choose it because it feels wearable and private—comfort that moves with you. If you’re exploring options, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry collection and Cremation Necklaces collection are helpful starting points, and the guide Cremation Jewelry Buying Guide explains practical details like filling, sealing, and materials.

Fees, rights, and cemetery paperwork terms

Cemetery paperwork can feel like real estate paperwork—because, in many ways, it is. You’re usually purchasing a right (the right to place remains in a particular space), not the land itself. That distinction is why certain words repeat.

Right of interment / interment right

This is the legal right to place remains in a specific space (a grave, crypt, or niche). Cemeteries often treat this as distinct from the services required to open and close the space, place the remains, and maintain the grounds.

Interment fee

An interment fee is what the cemetery charges to perform the placement. For burial, it may include opening and closing the grave; for cremation, it may include placing the urn in a niche or burying it in an urn garden. Asking “What does the interment fee include?” can prevent surprises.

Opening and closing

This usually refers to the labor and equipment to open a grave and close it after placement. Even with cremation burial (a smaller space), some cemeteries still use this language.

Vault / grave liner

A vault or liner is an outer burial container used in many cemeteries to prevent ground settling and support the landscape. Some cemeteries require an urn vault for cremation burial as well. If you’re burying an urn, ask whether a vault is required and what size the cemetery expects.

Endowment care / perpetual care

These terms refer to funds set aside for ongoing cemetery maintenance. The exact meaning varies by cemetery and state law, but the idea is consistent: a portion of fees supports long-term care of the grounds.

Marker, headstone, monument, and plaque

These words all describe memorial identification, but in different forms. “Marker” often means a flat, ground-level stone. “Headstone” often means a vertical stone. “Monument” may refer to a larger upright piece or family memorial. “Plaque” is common for niches and walls.

Permit / disposition permit

Families sometimes see “permit” in connection with cremation, burial, or transport of remains. Requirements vary by location, but the key idea is authorization—documentation that allows the funeral home or cemetery to proceed.

On the funeral home side, you may also see pricing terms like “General Price List” (GPL). The Federal Trade Commission explains that the GPL is designed to itemize goods and services so families can compare options and choose only what they want. If you ever feel pressured or confused by pricing language, asking for the GPL and a clear explanation is a steady next step.

Service and program terms: the words guests will hear and read

Not every family holds a traditional funeral, and choosing cremation doesn’t remove the option for ceremony. Many families create a service that fits their people: a small gathering, a memorial later when travel is easier, or a graveside moment at a niche or urn garden. The terminology below is the language you’ll often see on programs and in conversations with a funeral director.

Funeral vs. memorial service

Traditionally, “funeral” can imply the body is present, while “memorial service” often implies the body is not present (for example, after cremation). In real life, families use these words interchangeably. If you want help with program language and layout, Funeral.com’s guide Funeral Programs: What to Include, Examples, and Printing Options can make that part feel less intimidating.

Visitation / viewing / wake

These terms generally refer to time set aside for friends and family to gather and offer condolences. A viewing usually means the body is present; a visitation may be open casket or closed casket; a wake is often used in Catholic and Irish traditions but is broadly understood as a gathering before the service.

Committal / committal service

The committal is the moment of final placement—at the grave, crypt, or niche. This is often a short portion of the overall service, sometimes with a prayer, reading, or brief words of farewell.

Graveside service

A service held at the cemetery, either at the grave, urn garden, or columbarium. This can be the entire ceremony or a short closing piece after a larger gathering elsewhere.

Reception / celebration of life

These terms often describe a gathering that is more social and story-focused—sharing food, photos, music, and memories. They can be held with burial or cremation, before or after final placement.

If you’re trying to choose the right words for print, it can help to remember the program doesn’t need to “sound official.” It only needs to guide people gently. Even a simple line like “Interment will be private” or “Inurnment will follow at the columbarium” can reduce confusion and honor privacy at the same time.

Ashes terms: what to do with ashes, from home to water

For many families, the biggest emotional and practical question after cremation is simply what to do with ashes. Some families keep ashes at home for a while, some choose a cemetery placement, and others scatter in a place that feels like the person’s story.

Cremains / cremated remains

Both terms refer to the ashes and bone fragments returned after cremation. “Cremated remains” is the more formal phrase you’ll see on documents; “cremains” is a shorthand term used in conversation.

Keeping ashes at home

Keeping ashes at home is common, and many families find it comforting—especially early on, when decisions feel heavy. The key is choosing a stable, secure place and a container that matches your household (kids, pets, visitors, sunlight, humidity). If you’d like a calm, practical walkthrough, Funeral.com’s guide Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally covers common questions without judgment.

Scattering

Scattering means releasing ashes in a meaningful place. Rules vary depending on whether it’s private property (with permission), public land, or water. Many families keep a portion in a keepsake urn or jewelry even when they scatter the majority.

Water burial

Water burial can refer to several practices, including burial at sea, scattering on water, or using a biodegradable urn designed to sink and dissolve. If you’re exploring this option, Funeral.com’s guide Understanding What Happens During a Water Burial Ceremony explains what the day typically looks like and how families create meaning around it.

Burial at sea (U.S.)

In the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides guidance under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. For cremated remains, the general rule is that burial at sea must take place at least three nautical miles from land, with required reporting after the burial. The regulatory language appears in the eCFR (40 CFR Part 229). If you want ceremony ideas and practical tips, you can also read Funeral.com’s Scattering Ashes at Sea guide.

One detail families sometimes miss: even if you aren’t ready to choose a final resting place today, you can still choose a dignified “for now” container. That might be a full-size urn for a mantle, or a small sharing option while the family decides together. If you’re browsing options, Funeral.com’s Cremation Urns for Ashes collection and Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes collection can help you see what “temporary, but respectful” can look like.

Pet cremation terms: when love includes paws and feathers

Pet loss carries its own kind of grief—often quieter, but no less real. The terminology can be confusing here too, especially when you’re choosing between private and communal cremation or trying to understand what “return of ashes” means.

Private cremation vs. communal cremation

Private cremation generally means your pet is cremated individually and the ashes are returned to you. Communal cremation generally means multiple pets are cremated together and ashes are not returned. If you’re unsure, ask the veterinary provider to explain exactly what happens and what you will receive back.

Pet urn (pet urns, pet urns for ashes)

Pet urns are designed with pet sizes and styles in mind—sometimes with photo frames, paw prints, or smaller capacities. If you’re exploring pet urns for ashes, Funeral.com’s Pet Cremation Urns for Ashes collection includes traditional urns, decorative designs, and keepsake-sized options.

Pet figurine urn (pet cremation urns)

These are pet cremation urns that incorporate a sculpted pet figure—often a breed-specific memorial—so the urn feels like an object of remembrance rather than “a container.” Funeral.com’s Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes collection shows how this style can be both personal and tasteful.

Pet keepsake urn

A pet keepsake urn holds a small portion of ashes—often chosen when multiple family members want a piece of the memorial, or when some ashes will be scattered. You can browse Funeral.com’s Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes collection for compact options.

If you want a deeper, gentle explanation of sizes and choices, Funeral.com’s Journal article Pet Urns for Ashes: A Complete Guide for Dog and Cat Owners walks through the practical details in plain language.

Cost terms you may see: cremation cost language in everyday words

Families often ask, how much does cremation cost, and the honest answer is that “cremation” can refer to a simple direct cremation or a cremation paired with a service and memorial items. The terminology on price lists can make these differences harder to see at first glance.

If you want a clear overview of how pricing is commonly grouped—and what tends to be optional versus required—Funeral.com’s guide How Much Does Cremation Cost? Average Prices and Budget-Friendly Options breaks it down in a practical way. Many families find it helpful to read that first, then revisit the funeral home’s price list with less pressure and more context.

How to use this glossary during funeral planning

Here’s the quiet truth: you don’t need to memorize these words. You just need permission to ask for plain language. If a funeral director or cemetery counselor uses a term you don’t know, it’s completely appropriate to say, “Can you explain that like I’m new to this?” Most professionals want you to understand—because understanding reduces regret.

If you’re in active funeral planning, it can help to write down three decisions in simple sentences: where the remains will be placed (home, cemetery, scattering), what container you want (full-size urn, keepsake, jewelry), and whether you want a ceremony now or later. If you’re planning ahead, Funeral.com’s guide How to Preplan a Funeral can help you put those choices in writing without turning it into a legal project.

And if you’re choosing memorial items, it’s okay to move slowly. Many families begin with a simple urn, then later add cremation jewelry or a small keepsake when the initial fog lifts. Your timeline is allowed to be human.

A final reminder

This burial and cremation glossary is meant to make the next conversation easier—not to add another task to your list. When the words become understandable, the choices become gentler. And when the choices feel gentler, families can focus on what really matters: honoring a life (or a beloved pet) with clarity, care, and love.