cemetery

noun

cem·​e·​tery ˈse-mə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce cemetery (audio)
-ˌte-rē
plural cemeteries
Synonyms of cemetery
: a burial ground

Synonyms of cemetery

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Israelis bombed the cemetery where her friends were buried, leaving body parts and bones scattered for relatives to collect like a puzzle. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026 The series focuses on a 13-year-old named Sophie, who mourns her grandfather Thomas every day in a Milan cemetery. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026 Mary’s grave is in the back, in the historic section of the cemetery, near the Winthrop Avenue fence. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026 An unused two-door reach-in cooler turned into a roach cemetery, with 17 dead bodies inside and three in the drain pan underneath. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cemetery

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cemetery was in the 15th century

Rhymes for cemetery

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Browse Nearby Words

cemeterial
cemetery
CEMF
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Cite this Entry

“Cemetery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cemetery. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cemetery

noun
cem·​e·​tery ˈsem-ə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce cemetery (audio)
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on cemetery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cemetery

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