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Definition of churchyard

churchyard

/ˈtʃɜːrtʃ.jɑːrd/
church · yard
Plural:churchyards
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churchyard Lexical Profile

churchyard Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An enclosed area of land surrounding or adjacent to a church, often used as a burial ground.

Example

"Ancient yew trees shaded the weathered headstones in the village churchyard."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for churchyard

Word Nuance & Usage

While often used interchangeably with 'cemetery' or 'graveyard', a 'churchyard' specifically refers to land attached to a parish church, whereas a 'cemetery' is typically an independent burial ground not adjoining a church.

• Nearby Words

churchman
churchwoman
churchy
churchyard
churlish
churlishly
churlishness

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'cirictun', later replaced in Middle English by 'chirche-yard', a compound of 'chirche' (church) and 'yard' (enclosed ground).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Churchyard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/churchyard
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