churchyard

noun

church·​yard ˈchərch-ˌyärd How to pronounce churchyard (audio)
Synonyms of churchyardnext
: a yard that belongs to a church and is often used as a burial ground

Examples of churchyard in a Sentence

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.
Workers buried long lengths of pipe in the churchyard, to soak up some of the naturally present warmth in the ground. — Chris Baraniuk, Wired News, 13 Nov. 2025 Only days before, Al-Rahi had stood in the very churchyard where the crowd assembled Wednesday for his funeral. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026 Preferring to sleep each night in tents pitched outdoors, the monks have been surprised to see their message transcend ideologies, drawing huge crowds into churchyards, city halls and town squares across six states. — Deepa Bharath, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026 In Wuthering Heights, both Catherine and Heathcliff die in part by willing themselves into the grave—so much so there is worry that they won’t be allowed burial in the churchyard. — Literary Hub, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for churchyard

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of churchyard was in the 12th century

Rhymes for churchyard

See All Rhymes for churchyard

Browse Nearby Words

churchy
churchyard
churchyard beetle
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Cite this Entry

“Churchyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/churchyard. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

churchyard

noun
church·​yard ˈchərch-ˌyärd How to pronounce churchyard (audio)
: a yard that belongs to a church and is often used as a burial ground

More from Merriam-Webster on churchyard

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for churchyard

Nglish: Translation of churchyard for Spanish Speakers

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