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

Certain dates on the calendar meant time at a cemetery, standing before granite stones. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

For decades into the early 20th century, the cemetery remained in the trustees’ care. — Kamal Morgan. Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026

But the location of his grave was lost once British troops retook the city in late 1778 and occupied it through the war’s end, camping in the cemetery. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 30 June 2026

There is a cemetery in Galveston, Texas, where multiple members of my family are buried, too, actually going back more than five generations. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 1 July 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"