cemetery

noun

cem·​e·​tery ˈse-mə-ˌter-ē 

-ˌte-rē

plural cemeteries

: a burial ground

Synonyms

• boneyard
• God's acre
• graveyard
• memorial park
• necropolis
• potter's field

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

But this year, he was recognized for his patriotism, and his body was moved from the family plot to the national cemetery, with full honors. —Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023

For mummies still resting in shallow sandy cemeteries, more research is needed to determine how to best protect them. —Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023

At the mid-morning hour, the cemetery where American service members from the Civil War onward are interred was reverentially still. —Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2023

LeSage had donated 14 acres of farmland to open the new cemetery, one of four state veteran cemeteries in Minnesota. —Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2023

Over the years, the site came to encompass seven different cemeteries; Oakland Cemetery, Fraternal Cemetery, National Cemetery, an 11-acre Confederate cemetery and a separate 1-acre Confederate cemetery, B'Nai Israel Reformed Jewish Cemetery and Agudas Achim Orthodox Jewish Cemetery. —Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2023

According to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the cemetery dates back to The New Kingdom, the ancient Egyptian nation that existed between the 16th and 11th centuries BCE. —Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 29 Oct. 2023

Each year around Halloween, students at Middleburg’s Foxcroft School gather to hear the legend of Mrs. Kyle, who lived and died on the grounds The Halloween moon broke through the cloudy sky and cast the only light across the tiny cemetery. —Clarence Williams, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2023

Almost no building is free of a martyr poster, and the cemeteries overflow with those killed in clashes with Israeli troops. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023

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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

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"