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

Local residents discovered his remains and buried him in the village cemetery in Grevenmacher in April 1945. —Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 3 June 2024

Researchers believe ancient Romans likely kept the papyri in a nearby office which was later destroyed, accidentally distributing its contents over the pet cemetery, as McClatchy’s Aspen Pflughoeft writes. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2024

The labs’ work allowed Donna Kennedy to bury her cousin, Cpl. Charles Ray Patten, with full military honors this month in the same Lawson, Missouri, cemetery where his father and grandfather are buried. —Josh Funk, Fortune, 27 May 2024

The Los Gatos Memorial Park cemetery will hold its annual commemoration featuring the San Jose Metropolitan Band playing marches and patriotic music from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by the official ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon. —Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024

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

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"