cemetery

[ sem-i-ter-ee ]

noun

, plural cem·e·ter·ies.

1. an area set apart for or containing graves, tombs, or funeral urns, especially one that is not a churchyard; burial ground; graveyard.

cemetery

/ ˈsɛmɪtrɪ /

noun

1. a place where the dead are buried, esp one not attached to a church

Word History and Origins

Origin of cemetery¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin coemētērium < Greek koimētḗrion a sleeping place, equivalent to koimē- (variant stem of koimân to put to sleep) + -tērion suffix of locality

Word History and Origins

Origin of cemetery¹

C14: from Late Latin coemētērium, from Greek koimētērion room for sleeping, from koiman to put to sleep

Example Sentences

Tabby has visited this cemetery twice before, in an attempt to get as close to her father as she thought possible, not knowing he was here all along.

From BBC

"We are incredibly saddened to hear that a theft may have taken place in Leominster cemetery," a spokesperson said.

From BBC

They lie in neat rows of Commonwealth war graves in both the Roman Catholic church cemetery and the Church of Ireland cemetery in Irvinestown.

From BBC

Visitors to cemeteries in Glasgow have criticised a "disgusting" decision by the city council to place large stickers on gravestones.

From BBC

At the military cemetery of the Field of Mars, the sea of yellow and blue flags fluttering over the graves of Ukraine’s war dead is massive and continues to grow each week.

From BBC

Related Words

• garden
• graveyard
• mortuary
• tomb