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

Authorities said the thefts primarily occurred at the Mount Moriah Cemetery in the Philadelphia area, though remains were also removed from a cemetery in Plains Township, Luzerne County. —David Matthews, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026

Arrest papers show a cemetery board member first called the police. —Joe Holden, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026

Adelaida returns from the cemetery to discover her apartment has been taken over by a woman aligned with the regime. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026

Last spring, excavators found that a skeleton from a Roman cemetery outside of York, England, bore signs of a lion wound. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 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"