What does "necropolis" mean?
A cemetery; especially a large one in or near a city.
Necropolis
/nɛˈkɹɒpəlɪs/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A cemetery; especially a large one in or near a city.
- Grammar: necropolis is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: burial ground, burial site, burying ground, cemeteries.
- Usage evidence: Thirteen completely sealed wooden coffins have been discovered in the necropolis of Saqqara in Egypt.
How to use "necropolis"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "necropolis" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "necropolis" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "necropolis" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "necropolis" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "necropolis" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "burial ground" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "necropolis", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A cemetery; especially a large one in or near a city. also, figuratively, historical
"In Turkey, the tombs, according to the custom of the ancients, are always without the towns; and as each tomb has uſually a large ſtone, and ſome maſonry, they conſtitute what may almoſt be called a ſecond town, which may be named, as formerly at Alexandria, Necropolis, or the city of the dead."
- 2 a tract of land used for burials wordnet
- 3 An ancient site used for burying the dead, particularly if consisting of elaborate grave monuments.
"These labours upon Phœnician necropoli are of great importance. [...] M. [Louis Félicien] de Saulcy, one of the first travellers who has thrown light upon these necropoli, devoted himself to a very interesting examination of the tombs of the kings, of the prophets and judges, and upon the immense necropolis that surrounds Jerusalem, like a funeral enceinte."
- 4 A city or settlement where most people are dead and/or dying.
"You think London isn't a necropolis? Let me tell you it is. And people love it. Our cemeteries are popular tourist attractions."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Thirteen completely sealed wooden coffins have been discovered in the necropolis of Saqqara in Egypt."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "necropolis"?
Common synonyms include: burial ground, burial site, burying ground, cemeteries, cemetery, graveyard.
How do you use "necropolis" in a sentence?
Thirteen completely sealed wooden coffins have been discovered in the necropolis of Saqqara in Egypt.
How do you pronounce "necropolis"?
Pronounced /nɛˈkɹɒpəlɪs/.
Etymology
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).