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

Burr Oak, a historic Black cemetery, includes the gravesites of civil rights figure Emmett Till, blues musician Willie Dixon, and First Lady Michelle Obama’s father, Fraser Robinson. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026

All proceeds from the sale benefit the cemetery that is maintained by the society. —Holly Andres, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026

Atlanta mourners are finding solace in an iconic local cemetery. —Hunter Boyce, AJC.com, 4 Mar. 2026

Yesterday, my wife and I went out to the cemetery to lay some flowers for her brother and father, who passed away many years ago. —Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 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"