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

The cemetery was divided in two by a windbreak of giant elms. —Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026

Famed explorer Ernest Shackleton is buried in the island’s Grytviken cemetery. —Laura Kiniry, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026

But before the country could commemorate him, and ahead of his funeral Wednesday, forensic teams combed a cemetery in northern Gaza, working to locate, exhume and identify his remains as part of a broad effort involving search teams, intelligence officers and forensic dentists. —Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026

The remains of police officer Ran Gvili were found in a cemetery in northern Gaza. —Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 26 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"