Meanings
- pluralplural onlyCremated remains of a deceased person.
Some people prefer to keep the cremains in their homes in a special place.
1992, Kathleen Sublette, Martin Flagg, Final Celebrations: A Guide for Personal and Family Funeral Planning, page 522 more examples
Paul's cremains arrived by limo service less than an hour before the living room memorial.
2009, Mugan Sozan Peter Schellin, Rogue Monk: A Memoir about Zen, Disability, and Work, page 93Because of these remaining bone fragments, the cremains must be pulverized to a grainy powder before any scattering of ashes.
2010, Norman L. Cantor, After We Die: The Life and Times of the Human Cadaver, page 111
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
Blend of cremated + remains. Apparently originally a euphemism used by undertakers.
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with cremains
Cite this entry
cremains. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cremains
“cremains.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cremains. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cremains,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cremains.
Source: cremains on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.