# tombstone

/ˈtumˌstoʊn/ (US) · /tˈuːmstəʊn/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tombstone
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a flat stone placed over a grave that shows the name and dates of the person who died. It helps people remember where someone is buried.

For teachers: a stone marker placed at the head of a grave, typically inscribed with the name, birth date, and death date of the deceased.

## Examples

- The old tombstone was covered in green moss.
- Historians often visit the local cemetery to read the inscriptions on each tombstone for genealogical research.
- Weathered by centuries of coastal rain, the marble tombstone had become nearly illegible, leaving the identity of the merchant buried beneath it a mystery to modern visitors.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.