Which term best describes the process of disinfecting and preserving a body after death?

The term that best describes the process of disinfecting and preserving a body after death is embalming. This procedure involves the use of chemicals to delay decomposition, sanitize, and preserve the body, allowing for a more dignified viewing experience for loved ones and providing time for necessary arrangements to be made. Embalming not only helps in preserving the physical appearance of the deceased but also serves hygienic purposes that are particularly important in funeral practices.

Cremation involves reducing the body to ashes through intense heat but does not relate to disinfection or preservation. Burial refers to the act of placing the deceased into the ground, while disinterment is the process of exhuming a body after it has been buried, often for legal or family reasons. Neither cremation, burial, nor disinterment captures the elements of preservation and disinfection as effectively as embalming does.