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• crypt
  crypt

  noun

  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.
• crypt-
  crypt-

  variant of crypto- before a vowel.

crypt

¹ American  

[kript] / krɪpt /

noun

• crypts
  plural

1. 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.

2. Anatomy. a slender pit or recess; a small glandular cavity.

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crypt- ² American  

1. variant of crypto- before a vowel.

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crypt British  

/ krɪpt /

noun

1. a cellar, vault, or underground chamber, esp beneath a church, where it is often used as a chapel, burial place, etc

2. anatomy any pitlike recess or depression

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undercrypt
  noun
• cryptal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• crypts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of crypt

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

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crypt crypts

Another is a pungent work of terror about a cursed man who inexplicably perishes in the village’s crypt, forcing the townspeople to investigate by disinterring the bodies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 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

"Over time, more and more areas with an older epigenetic profile develop in the tissue. Through the natural process of crypt division, these regions continuously enlarge and can continue to grow over many years."

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

Mother Slaughter and Josiah Worthington, Bart., accompanied Mr. Owens to the crypt of the old chapel, and they told Mrs. Owens the news.

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Brontë was fascinated by silent crypts and tormenting passions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

The gut is made up of tiny structures called crypts, each formed from a single stem cell.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 10, 2026

The vicar of St Michan's says it's important to reopen the crypts as soon as possible to ensure the church has sufficient funds to maintain the centuriesold church-

From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2025

Truly, baseball crypts are filled with the dead arms of pitchers who were asked to compete in the postseason outside of their comfort zone.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2024

Twilight stars shimmered over tombstones and crypts and endless graves.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton