a subterranean chamber or vault, especially one beneath the main floor of a church, used as a burial place, a location for secret meetings, etc.
Anatomy. a slender pit or recess; a small glandular cavity.
a cellar, vault, or underground chamber, esp beneath a church, where it is often used as a chapel, burial place, etc
anatomy any pitlike recess or depression
What does crypt- mean? Crypto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “hidden, secret.” It is used in many scientific, medical, and other technical terms. Crypto- comes from the Greek kryptós, meaning “hidden.” The word crypt also derives from this root. Dig up the connection at our entry for the word. In anatomy, crypto- specifically refers to a crypt in its specialized sense of a “slender pit or recess” or a “small glandular cavity.”Crypt- is a variant of crypto-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use crypto- article.
1375–1425 for sense “grotto”; 1555–65 for current senses; late Middle English cripte < Latin crypta < Greek kryptḗ hidden place, noun use of feminine of kryptós hidden, verbid of krýptein to hide; replacing earlier crypta < Latin, as above
A crypt is a vault for burying the dead and is often underneath or part of a church building. Crypt rhymes with "gripped," and if you saw a corpse come out of a crypt, you would definitely be gripped with terror. While a coffin is a rectangular box used for burying dead people underground, a crypt is often an elaborate stone or marble vault that's above ground. Some cultures believe in investing in large, decorated crypts to honor the dead, while others choose simpler chambers very close together for keeping family members near, even in death. A crypt can inspire scary thoughts of lids popping and doors opening for the walking dead, but that's due mostly to the widespread crypt scenes in horror movies. Mostly.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Inside the memorial is a crypt containing the remains of more than 1,000 other soldiers.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
When the structure is completed and the scaffolding dismantled, the tower will be blessed on June 10 to coincide with the centenary of the death of Gaudi, whose body lies in the basilica's crypt.
From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026
If that stem cell develops epigenetic changes, every cell within the crypt inherits them.
From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2026
Coffins, a crypt and a creepy statue of a young girl are what greets us.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2025
It was not Rebecca who was lying in that coffin in the crypt, it was dust.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
