sepulture: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, literary, archaic, technical (historical/archaeological).
Quick answer
What does “sepulture” mean?
The action or ritual of placing a dead body in a grave or tomb.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The action or ritual of placing a dead body in a grave or tomb; burial.
A place of burial; a tomb or gravesite. It can also refer to the state of being buried or interred.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning or usage. It is equally rare and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes antiquity, formality, and solemnity in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. More likely to appear in academic historical or archaeological contexts than in any form of contemporary discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “sepulture” in a Sentence
deny sb sepulturegive sb sepulturefind sepulture inVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sepulture” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fallen knights were sepultured with great honour in the cathedral crypt.
American English
- They sought to sepulture the time capsule beneath the monument's cornerstone.
adjective
British English
- The sepultural rites were conducted by the parish priest. (rare, derived)
American English
- Archaeologists documented the sepultural artefacts found at the site. (rare, derived)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, theological, or archaeological studies discussing burial customs and rites.
Everyday
Extremely rare and would sound deliberately archaic or pretentious.
Technical
Used in archaeology and forensic anthropology to describe burial sites and practices, though 'burial' is more common.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sepulture”
- Misspelling as 'sepulchure' or 'seplecture'.
- Using it in casual conversation where 'burial' or 'funeral' is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and formal. The word 'burial' is used in almost all modern contexts.
'Sepulture' refers to the *act or process* of burial. 'Sepulchre' (or 'sepulcher' in US spelling) refers to the *physical structure*—a tomb, burial vault, or a room for a tomb.
Yes, but it is extremely rare and archaic (e.g., 'to sepulture someone'). The verbs 'bury' or 'inter' are standard.
Only for learners at a very advanced (C2) level who are engaging with historical, literary, or specialised archaeological texts. For general communication, it is not necessary to learn.
The action or ritual of placing a dead body in a grave or tomb.
Sepulture is usually formal, literary, archaic, technical (historical/archaeological). in register.
Sepulture: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛpəltʃə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛpəltʃər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “denied Christian sepulture (historical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SEPULchre' (a tomb) + 'culture' (a practice) = the cultural practice of burial in a tomb.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEPULTURE IS A FINAL RESTING PLACE / SEPULTURE IS A RITE OF PASSAGE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sepulture' MOST appropriately used?