graveyard

American  

[greyv-yahrd] / ˈgreɪvˌyɑrd /

noun

1. a burial ground, often associated with smaller rural churches, as distinct from a larger urban or public cemetery.

2. Informal. graveyard shift.

3. a place in which obsolete or derelict objects are kept.

   an automobile graveyard.

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graveyard British  

/ ˈɡreɪvˌjɑːd /

noun

1. a place for graves; a burial ground, esp a small one or one in a churchyard

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Etymology

Origin of graveyard

First recorded in 1765–75; grave ¹ + yard ²

Compare meaning

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

• cemetery vs. graveyard

Example Sentences

Nicknamed Bob Coveiro - meaning "gravedigger" in Portuguese - the loyal dog brought comfort to mourners and became a fixture at the graveyard until his death in 2021, when he was buried alongside his guardian.

From BBC

Fears of ending up in some unemployment graveyard mean workers hold on to lower wages or jobs they hate.

From The Wall Street Journal

The eventual artwork, 25 metres by 25 metres and enclosed by a wall, will be filled with stones from these graveyards.

From BBC

As I was passing the Community Church, the calm shade of the graveyard was mighty inviting.

From Literature

“The hat! It must have flown off when we ran though the graveyard.”

From Literature

Related Words

• burial ground
• cemetery