disinter

verb

dis·​in·​ter ˌdis-in-ˈtər 

disinterred; disinterring; disinters

transitive verb

1

: to take out of the grave or tomb

2

: to bring back into awareness or prominence

also : to bring to light : unearth

disinterment

ˌdis-in-ˈtər-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• exhume
• unearth

Examples of disinter in a Sentence

The body was disinterred for further study.

the Egyptian mummy was carefully disinterred

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2017, officials with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency disinterred the remains of 35 unknown sailors and transported them to the agency’s laboratory. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025

In March and April 2022, the remains were disinterred and sent to the agency’s laboratory at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025

In 2022, the sets of remains were disinterred again and sent to the DPAA laboratory for analysis. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2025

Representative Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican, introduced a bill on Tuesday to disinter a veteran's remains from a military cemetery. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for disinter

• midwinter
• reenter
• minter
• printer
• sinter
• splinter
• sprinter
• winter
• overwinter
• teleprinter

Kids Definition

disinter

verb

dis·​in·​ter ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈtər 

1

: to take out of the grave or tomb

2

: to bring back into awareness : unearth

disinterment

-mənt 

noun

Medical Definition

disinter

transitive verb

dis·​in·​ter ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈtər 

: to take out of the grave or tomb

disinterment

-mənt 

noun