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

Jackson lives in Kinston, about 9 miles north of the cemetery, court records show. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026

The proposal requires funds from the state's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund because the cemetery's operators cannot afford to solve the issue on their own. —Wcco Staff, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026

Recently built, the mausoleum at the Tafi Viejo cemetery in Tucuman has most of its niches still empty, awaiting new identifications. —Débora Rey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026

That cemetery is the final resting place for stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Gene Autry, Buster Keaton and Steve Allen. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 23 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"