cenotaph

noun

ceno·​taph ˈse-nə-ˌtaf 

-ˌtäf

: a tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person or group of persons whose remains are elsewhere

Did you know?

The word cenotaph is derived from the Greek kenos taphos, meaning "empty tomb." A cenotaph is a monument, sometimes in the form of a tomb, to a person or group of persons buried elsewhere. Ancient Greek writings tell of many cenotaphs, although none of them survives. Existing cenotaphs of this type are found in churches (for example, in Santa Croce in Florence, where there are memorials to Dante, Machiavelli, and Galileo). The term is now applied to national war memorials.

Examples of cenotaph in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The building features a number of elaborate interior details, including crypts and tombs, cenotaphs, iwans, chhatris, and minarets, as well as sarcophagus elements. —Kathleen Felton, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2024

This epigram is quoted by Herodotus as the second of three displayed at the site of Thermopylae on monuments or cenotaphs. —A.e. Stallings, The New York Review of Books, 17 Aug. 2023

In the midst of tragedy, Back Home in Lahaina has become something of a cenotaph to the lost lives, buildings and history of the culturally rich town. —Lucas Kwan Peterson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2023

Most striking is that the cenotaph, located on the edge of the cemetery, features Morgan facing outward, away from the other graves. —Colin Dickey, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

French cénotaphe, from Latin cenotaphium, from Greek kenotaphion, from kenos empty + taphos tomb

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above