necropolis

American  

[nuh-krop-uh-lis, ne-] / nəˈkrɒp ə lɪs, nɛ- /

noun

plural

necropolises

1. a cemetery, especially one of large size and usually of an ancient city.

2. a historic or prehistoric burial ground.

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necropolis British  

/ nɛˈkrɒpəlɪs /

noun

1. a burial site or cemetery

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Other Word Forms

• necropolitan adjective

Etymology

Origin of necropolis

First recorded in 1810–20, necropolis is from the Greek word nekrópolis burial place (literally, city of the dead). See necro-, -polis

Example Sentences

Today the glamorous necropolis is “the jewel in the crown of cemetery tourism,” Mr. Gallot notes.

From The Wall Street Journal

A regional court recently struck down a project proposed near Pranu Muttedu, a Neolithic necropolis that has been called the Sardinian Stonehenge.

From Salon

On 23 October, the IDF issued evacuation orders for neighbourhoods close to the city's Roman ruins, including the remains of a necropolis and a hippodrome.

From BBC

His necropolis, or burial ground, stands out on the landscape because it also includes the Sphinx, a mysterious limestone monument with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh.

From National Geographic

Notably, a 16-year-old male who was excavated from a necropolis in a large Roman city was of 100% East African ancestry.

From Science Daily