headstone

noun

head·​stone ˈhed-ˌstōn 

: a memorial stone at the head of a grave

Synonyms

• gravestone
• monument
• stone
• tombstone

Examples of headstone in a Sentence

many of the headstones were for children who had died during the influenza epidemic

Recent Examples on the Web

My late father-in-law fought at the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944, my late uncle was wounded at the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, and my husband’s great uncle was a sailor whose warship was sunk by the Japanese in 1942 and whose headstone may be found in Manila. —Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025

That’s certainly true of David Lynch, whose headstone has been one of the most visited since being placed in April after the director’s death in January. —Pat Saperstein, Variety, 13 June 2025

During its seven year stint atop Morrison’s headstone, fans took to covering the bust in graffiti, as well as chipping off parts souvenirs. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2025

The sun shines on the headstone of Heather West, on January 26, 2005, in Tintern, Wales. —Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 14 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for headstone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

headstone

noun

head·​stone -ˌstōn 

: a memorial stone placed at the head of a grave