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

Nine generations of their family are buried in the nearby cemetery of Friedberg Moravian Church, founded in 1773. —Charlotte Observer, 27 Nov. 2025

After looking over 17 entries for a logo contest, officials at Nuevo Memory Gardens cemetery chose the artwork submitted by Juliana Quiroz, 14, a freshman at Ramona High School. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025

At Bucha's military cemetery, Vira Katanenko, 66, visited the grave of her son Andrii, who was killed in battle in the Donetsk region last year. —Arkansas Online, 24 Nov. 2025

Casting off their usual morbid sheen, the grounds of the cemetery exuded life as my mom was returned to the earth. —Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025

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"