cemetery
SEHM-ih-tree
Cemetery (noun) means a place where the dead are buried; a graveyard. Example: “A quiet path winds through the cemetery past rows of weathered headstones.”
noun
1
A place where the dead are buried; a graveyard.
"A quiet path winds through the cemetery past rows of weathered headstones."
"They laid flowers at the family plot in the cemetery."
"The old cemetery on the hill dates back to the 1800s."
"They were probably the work of individual craftsmen working to meet the chieftains' needs. Their place in the chronology of the big cemeteries is indicated by the less richly-decorated double-springed bronze brooches which are found here."
— Kazimierz Godłowski, The chronology of the Late Roman and early migration periods in Central Europe (1970)
How to use cemetery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA burial ground for the dead.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
visit the cemetery
buried in a cemetery
cemetery plot
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Word forms
- Plural
- cemeteries
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A quiet path winds through the _____ past rows of weathered headstones.
Etymology
From Late Latin coemeterium, from Ancient Greek koimeterion, literally "a sleeping place" — from a verb meaning "to put to sleep."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for cemetery
See all rhymes for cemetery →Frequently asked questions
What does “cemetery” mean?
The word “cemetery” means a place where the dead are buried; a graveyard. In plain terms, a burial ground for the dead.
How do you pronounce “cemetery”?
“Cemetery” is pronounced SEHM-ih-tree (/ˈsɛm.ɪˌtɛɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “cemetery” in a sentence?
Here is “cemetery” used in a sentence: “They laid flowers at the family plot in the cemetery.”
What part of speech is “cemetery”?
“Cemetery” is a noun.
Where does the word “cemetery” come from?
The word “cemetery” comes from Ancient Greek. From Late Latin coemeterium, from Ancient Greek koimeterion, literally "a sleeping place" — from a verb meaning "to put to sleep.".
Is “cemetery” a common word?
“Cemetery” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard?
Traditionally, a graveyard is a burial ground attached to a church, while a cemetery is an independent burial site not tied to a church building. In everyday modern English, though, the two words are used interchangeably for any place where the dead are buried.
How do you spell cemetery?
Cemetery is spelled with three e's and no a: c-e-m-e-t-e-r-y. The misspelling cemetary is extremely common because the final syllable sounds like -ary.
What is the difference between a cemetery and a mausoleum?
A cemetery is the ground where the dead are buried, while a mausoleum is a building that houses tombs above ground, and one may stand inside a cemetery. Graves in a cemetery are typically in the earth, whereas a mausoleum keeps remains in chambers within a structure.
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