Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

calvary

play
noun cal·va·ry \ˈkal-v(ə-)rē\

Definition of calvary

plural

calvaries

  1. 1 :  an open-air representation of the crucifixion of Jesus

  2. 2 :  an experience of usually intense mental suffering

Read the Latest from M-W

cavalry
Do You Send in the ‘Cavalry’ or the ‘Calvary’?
image386126722
Words That Come From the Dinner Table
alt-59721dd897313
The 'Best' Way to Sign Off On An E-mail
alt-597233d35a146
Trending: 'Scaramouch,' Scaramucci Possibly to Fandango

Origin and Etymology of calvary

Calvary, the hill near Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

Calvary

play
geographical name Cal·va·ry \ˈkal-v(ə-)rē\
variants: or Hebrew

Golgotha

play play \ˈgäl-gə-thə, gäl-ˈgä-thə\

Definition of Calvary

  1. place outside ancient Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified

CALVARY Defined for English Language Learners

Calvary

play
geographical name

Definition of Calvary for English Language Learners

  • : place near ancient Jerusalem

Learn More about calvary

  1. Britannica English: Translation of calvary for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up calvary? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

tare

play

the weight of a container

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. scaramouch A new White House communications director

  2. non sequitur “It does not follow”

  3. admiral's mast A massive search ends with an 'admiral's mast'.

  4. calumny 'An untrue statement that is made to damage someone's reputation'

  5. kakistocracy Frustrated Twitter users have been searching for this word.

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

calvary

Test Your Vocabulary

The Emoji Quiz

  • emoji-the-quiz
  • What phase of the moon is this: 🌖 ?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59721dd897313
The 'Best' Way to Sign Off On An E-mail

Give them your best

image386126722
Words and Phrases That Come from the Dinner Table

Fill your plate with these surprising food words

ghost-being-disinvited-from-party
'Disinvite' or 'Uninvite'?

A disinvited guest is an uninvited problem

alt-596f730ceb5ae
Words We're Watching: 'Scoby'

Kombucha lovers unite.

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz
image941935269
A Game of Thrones Word Quiz

In the Game of Thrones quiz, you learn some new vocabulary. (It’s quite safe, really. You will not die.)

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
Citation
Citation

Do you know the person or title these quotes describe?

Play the game