cemetery

noun

cem·​e·​tery ˈse-mə-ˌter-ē 

-ˌte-rē

plural cemeteries

: a burial ground

Synonyms

• boneyard
• God's acre
• graveyard
• memorial park
• necropolis
• potter's field

Examples of cemetery in a Sentence

many of the soldiers who died in the battle are buried in a cemetery nearby

Recent Examples on the Web

In the military section of the cemetery, Ukrainian flags flew over every headstone. —Kim Barker, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025

The iron pieces were found in cemeteries in Częstochowa, about a 95-mile drive northwest from Kraków, in southern Poland. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025

On top of managing business operations, meeting with families and preparing bodies, Schmidt attends funerals at churches and cemeteries, officiating services and saying prayers. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025

Navalny’s parents, Anatoly and Lyudmila, were among the mourners who visited the snowy cemetery in southeast Moscow. —Anna Cooban, CNN, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cimitery, from Anglo-French cimiterie, from Late Latin coemeterium, from Greek koimētērion sleeping chamber, burial place, from koiman to put to sleep; akin to Greek keisthai to lie, Sanskrit śete he lies

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cemetery

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

cemetery

noun

cem·​e·​tery ˈsem-ə-ˌter-ē 

plural cemeteries

: a place where dead people are buried : graveyard

Etymology

Middle English cimitery "cemetery," from early French cimiterie (same meaning), from Latin coemeterium "cemetery," from Greek koimētērion "sleeping chamber, burial place," from koiman "to put to sleep"