churchyard
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
'Churchyard' names the ground around a church, usually with graves belonging to the local parish. 'Graveyard' is the more everyday word for a burial place and often suggests the same kind of church-connected site, but it does not focus as strongly on the church building itself. 'Cemetery' usually suggests a larger, planned burial area that may stand apart from any church. 'Burial ground' is the broadest and most neutral option, especially in historical writing. You might speak of flowers in the churchyard after Sunday service, visit a relative in the city cemetery, or read about an ancient burial ground in a history book.
Common collocations
Nouns
- churchyard wall
- churchyard gate
- churchyard path
Prepositions
- in the churchyard
- through the churchyard
- beside the churchyard
Etymology
A compound of 'church' and 'yard'. It has long referred to the enclosed ground around a church, especially the part used for parish burials.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined above