holy sepulcher: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very low frequency, specialized religious/historical context)Formal, religious, historical, academic
Quick answer
What does “holy sepulcher” mean?
The tomb in which Jesus Christ was laid after his crucifixion, located in Jerusalem.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The tomb in which Jesus Christ was laid after his crucifixion, located in Jerusalem; a church built over this site.
Any shrine or church dedicated to commemorating the burial place of Christ; by extension, a revered burial place of a saint or holy figure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK strongly prefers 'Holy Sepulchre' (with 're' ending). US accepts both 'Holy Sepulcher' and 'Holy Sepulchre', with 'Sepulcher' being more common in modern usage.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term is exclusively associated with Christianity, Jerusalem, and medieval history (e.g., Crusades).
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Appears almost exclusively in religious, historical, archaeological, or travel writing.
Grammar
How to Use “holy sepulcher” in a Sentence
[the] + Holy Sepulchre[Verb: visit/venerate/see] + the Holy Sepulchre[Preposition: of/in/at] + the Holy SepulchreVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “holy sepulcher” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - The term is exclusively a proper noun.
American English
- N/A - The term is exclusively a proper noun.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A - The term is exclusively a proper noun. One might say 'Sepulchral light' but not 'Sepulchre light'.
American English
- N/A - The term is exclusively a proper noun.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history, theology, archaeology, and art history papers discussing Jerusalem, Crusades, or Christian sites.
Everyday
Extremely rare except for devout Christians discussing pilgrimage or in travel contexts about Jerusalem.
Technical
Used in archaeology and historical preservation reports concerning the specific site in Jerusalem.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “holy sepulcher”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “holy sepulcher”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “holy sepulcher”
- Misspelling as 'Holy Sepulcher' in UK contexts. Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a holy sepulchre' for any tomb). Incorrect capitalisation ('holy sepulchre').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same place. 'Sepulchre' is the traditional British English spelling; 'Sepulcher' is the common American English spelling.
No. With capital letters ('Holy Sepulchre'), it is a proper noun for the specific site in Jerusalem. Using it in lowercase for other tombs is archaic and very rare.
It is one of Christianity's holiest sites, built over the location traditionally identified as the burial and resurrection place of Jesus Christ.
No. The church is shared under a complex status quo arrangement between several Christian denominations, primarily the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Armenian Apostolic churches.
The tomb in which Jesus Christ was laid after his crucifixion, located in Jerusalem.
Holy sepulcher is usually formal, religious, historical, academic in register.
Holy sepulcher: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊli ˈsɛpəlkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊli ˈsɛpəlkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. The term itself is a fixed historical/religious name.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A holy SEPULCHRE is where Christ's body was kept REverently' (linking the 're' spelling to reverence).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HOLY SEPULCHRE IS A FOCAL POINT OF FAITH/DEVOTION. THE HOLY SEPULCHRE IS A HISTORICAL ANCHOR.
Practice
Quiz
What is the Holy Sepulchre?