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

Death Cafes are popping up in churches, coffee shops and even historic cemeteries across the country. —Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 May 2026

The cemetery partners with a land trust to manage, restore and protect the land from development. —ABC News, 1 May 2026

Previously a dairy farm, with a pioneer cemetery across the street, most of the adjacent antique mall buildings date from the 1800s. —Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026

Both cars then crashed through a fence around the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Central cemetery. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 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
• 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"