cemetery

noun

cem·​e·​tery ˈse-mə-ˌter-ē 

-ˌte-rē

plural cemeteries

: a burial ground

Synonyms

• 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

But there’s a lot more to visit there than just battlefields and cemeteries. —Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

The site, known as Zvejnieki cemetery, is one of Europe’s largest Stone Age cemeteries. —Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025

And like many other days, their birthday included a trip to the cemetery. —Jeff Truesdell, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025

But for the most part, they had been used for relatively small tasks—caring for a pet after its owner died, or funding the management of a piece of property, or a cemetery plot. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 9 Sep. 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"