English Reference
Noun

headstone

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈhɛdˌstoʊn/ UK /hˈɛdstəʊn/ head·stone UK spelling headstones

n.a stone marker that sits on top of a grave. It usually has the name and dates of the person who is buried there.

n.a stone slab or upright monument placed on a grave to mark the location of a burial. Typically inscribed with the deceased's name, dates of birth and death, and sometimes a short epitaph.


SIMPLE

The headstone is covered in moss and lichen.

CONTEXTUAL

The family visited the cemetery every Sunday to clean the headstone and lay fresh flowers at the grave.

COMPLEX

While many modern cemeteries use flat markers to save space, the traditional upright headstone remains a powerful visual symbol of the individual's final resting place.

Among them is a headstone marking where a 12-year-old was laid to rest.

BBC News· 3 Sept 2026

From head + stone.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated