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 parties’ local branches instead proposed that future Holocaust commemorations should be kept at the town’s memorial site at its northern cemetery, German media report. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

The teaser cuts to a cemetery and a coffin on which somebody lays a black rose. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026

Now, his son told members of Congress, Salgado Araujo’s wife spends those evenings visiting her husband’s grave at the cemetery. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Of all the details, stories and praise that accompanied the recent death of Dolly Parton, one of the most surprising was her affection for cemeteries. — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 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"