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

Flag placement event at national cemetery Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery hosts a flag placement event at 8 a.m. May 24 at the cemetery, 1700 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, and volunteers are needed to place flags on gravesites. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025

Social media sleuths also discovered Walters had poached at least two other deer from the cemetery. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025

The white steepled chapel remains active today, beside a cemetery with cedar and crape myrtle trees. —Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025

Today, the Agoo cemetery is being demolished in the name of progress. —Marta Balaga, Variety, 15 May 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"