cemetery

noun

cem·​e·​tery ˈse-mə-ˌter-ē 

-ˌte-rē

plural cemeteries

: a burial ground

Synonyms of cemetery

• graveyard

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

Directed by Jean Rollin, the film centers on a first date that goes horribly wrong after the couple get lost in a sprawling cemetery. —Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026

Logan still lives in his childhood home, just a few yards west of the cemetery. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026

Shortly after, cinematographer Pat Scola’s overhead view of a makeshift cemetery is a stunner. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026

Welcome to the world’s first plague cemetery The Angara River flows from the depths of Lake Baikal. —ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026

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
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

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"