cemetery

American  

[sem-i-ter-ee] / ˈsɛm ɪˌtɛr i /

noun

plural

cemeteries

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

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cemetery British  

/ ˈsɛmɪtrɪ /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of cemetery

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

Compare meaning

How does cemetery compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cemetery vs. graveyard

Example Sentences

Hospital authorities had buried the unknown old man in the paupers’ cemetery.

From Literature

The old Balm of Gilead cemetery was along Quagmire Road, about halfway between here and home.

From Literature

Mrs. Dannenberg’s face softens, losing the grim determination of a business dealing that she had when she believed we were from the cemetery.

From Literature

"He did not want to leave the town. He stayed, but is now in the cemetery," she told AFP, sobbing in the church hall.

From Barron's

The team examined 939 adult skeletons from five medieval cemeteries in Denmark.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• garden
• graveyard
• mortuary
• tomb