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

Investigators got another chance in 2007 when the remains were removed from a cemetery so a DNA sample could finally be collected. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

And while there are other memorial walls etched with thousands of names across the region, families say there is something about a cemetery that offers special solace, especially at Holy Rood, where trains pass hourly. — Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 30 July 2026

The cemetery, at 1218 Glendon Avenue in the Westwood area near UCLA, is open from 10am to 5PM daily. — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Kim also visited the Chinese volunteer soldiers’ cemetery, paying respects at the grave of Mao Anying, son of Mao Zedong, KCNA said on Monday, in a further sign of warming ties with Beijing. — Reuters, NBC news, 27 July 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
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

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"