necropolis

Meaning

1. (also, figuratively, historical) A cemetery; especially a large one in or near a city.
2. An ancient site used for burying the dead, particularly if consisting of elaborate grave monuments.
3. A city or settlement where most people are dead and/or dying.

Synonyms

cemetery

graveyard

burial ground

memorial park

burying ground

burial site

polyandrium

grave-yard

nekropolis

churchyard

God’s acre

potter’s field

boneyard

boot hill

Translations

nécropole

Nekropole

necrópole

νεκροταφείο

necropoli

νεκρόπολη

necròpolis

necrópolis

Nekropolis

necròpoli

Totenstadt

cementerio

mezarlık

Cemitérios

Pronounced as (IPA)

/nɛˈkɹɒpəlɪs/

Etymology

Cognate with French: nécropole

Cognate with German: Nekropolis

In summary

Borrowed from Koine Greek νεκρόπολις (nekrópolis, “city of the dead, cemetery”) (used to describe part of the city of Alexandria, Egypt), from Ancient Greek νεκρός (nekrós, “dead”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *neḱ- (“to disappear; to perish”)) + πόλις (pólis, “city”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tpelH- (“city; fortification”)). The English word is analysable as necro- + -polis, and is cognate with French nécropole, German Nekropolis, Late Latin necropolis.
The plural form necropoleis is derived from Ancient Greek νεκροπόλεις (nekropóleis).