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 supervisor, Art Roll, told KDKA-TV that Jim Gibson Tree Services was hired to remove hazardous trees and branches on the property. —Erika Stanish, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026

For the second year, the cemetery partnered with local gallery Cat Eye Creative to curate with new artists and a new path through the cemetery. —Yvonne Zusel, AJC.com, 17 Apr. 2026

The cemetery overlooks the scenic Loess Hills, created by windblown silt deposits that reach up to 200 feet high (about 61 meters) and line the river along the Iowa border for 200 miles (322 kilometers). —ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026

The price of opening a grave site in one of the city’s cemeteries will jump to $1,000 on a weekday and $1,200 on a weekend or holiday (up from $800 and $950, respectively). —Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 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"