sepulchre: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, formal, religious, historical
Quick answer
What does “sepulchre” mean?
A burial vault, tomb, or grave, especially one built of stone or brick.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A burial vault, tomb, or grave, especially one built of stone or brick.
A place of burial; something that serves as a grave or memorial. Can also refer to a receptacle for sacred relics, or metaphorically to a dark, gloomy place or state.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'sepulchre' is standard in British English. The American English spelling is 'sepulcher'. The pronunciation is essentially the same.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties—literary, formal, and often religious/historical.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to specific registers. No significant difference in frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “sepulchre” in a Sentence
[verb] a sepulchre (e.g., build, enter, desecrate)sepulchre [preposition] (e.g., of the kings, in the cathedral)adjective + sepulchreVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sepulchre” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ancient kings were sepulchred within the mountain.
- They sought to sepulchre the relics in a sacred place.
American English
- The pharaohs were sepulchered in the Valley of the Kings.
- The tradition was to sepulcher warriors with their weapons.
adverb
British English
- The bell tolled sepulchrally across the moor.
- He whispered sepulchrally, sending a shiver down her spine.
American English
- The wind moaned sepulchrally through the ruins.
- The announcement was delivered sepulchrally by the minister.
adjective
British English
- The sepulchral silence of the cathedral was profound.
- He spoke in a deep, sepulchral tone.
American English
- A sepulchral gloom filled the abandoned mansion.
- The organ's sepulchral notes echoed in the hall.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, archaeological, religious studies, and literature contexts.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound archaic or pretentious.
Technical
Used in archaeology and architecture to describe specific types of tombs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sepulchre”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sepulchre”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sepulchre”
- Misspelling: 'sepulcher' (UK) or 'sepulchre' (US). Follow regional spelling.
- Mispronunciation: Stressing the second syllable (/sɪˈpʌlkə/). Correct stress is on the first.
- Overuse in everyday contexts where 'tomb' or 'grave' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A grave is typically a simple excavation in the ground for burial. A sepulchre is a constructed, often above-ground, chamber or building made of stone or brick, usually for someone of importance.
No, it is a low-frequency, C2-level word. It is used primarily in literary, historical, religious, or formal contexts. In everyday speech, 'tomb' or 'grave' are far more common.
It means a hypocrite. It comes from the Bible (Matthew 23:27), referring to a tomb that is painted white on the outside to look clean but is full of decay inside. It describes someone who appears morally upright but is corrupt within.
In both British and American English, the stress is on the first syllable: SEP-ul-ker. The 'ch' is pronounced as a /k/. British: /ˈsɛp(ə)lkə/. American: /ˈsɛp(ə)lkər/.
A burial vault, tomb, or grave, especially one built of stone or brick.
Sepulchre is usually literary, formal, religious, historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a whited sepulchre (hypocrite)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SEPUL' sounding like 'sepul' (separate) and 'CHRE' like 'chamber'. A separate chamber for the dead.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEATH IS REST / DEATH IS CONTAINMENT (the body is contained in a stone box). Also used metaphorically for hypocrisy (a whited sepulchre: beautiful outside, corrupt inside).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'sepulchre' in the context of 'the king's marble sepulchre'?