cenotaph
Memorial without remains
A cenotaph is a monument honoring someone whose remains are elsewhere—a tomb without a body.
The word comes from Greek for "empty tomb." Cenotaphs typically memorialize soldiers killed in war whose bodies were never recovered or were buried abroad: The Cenotaph in London commemorates British war dead.
They serve as focal points for collective mourning and remembrance.
Structure honoring someone remembered
- tributeOffering of respect
- commemorationAct of honoring memory
- honoringRecognizing with respect
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
reverence · homage · shrine · obelisk · plaque · eulogy · pilgrimage · ceremony
Combat engagement area
- veteransFormer armed forces members
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- fallenHaving dropped down
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
poppy · valor · heroes · soldiers · military · infantry · medal · gallantry
monument
Structure honoring someone remembered
- tributeOffering of respect
- commemorationAct of honoring memory
- honoringRecognizing with respect
dedication · reverence · homage · shrine · obelisk · plaque · eulogy · pilgrimage · ceremony · veneration
battlefield
Combat engagement area
armistice · poppy · valor · heroes · soldiers · military · infantry · medal · gallantry · bugle
obelisk
Tapering stone monument
- pillarUpright architectural support
- columnVertical structural element
- statueThree-dimensional sculpted likeness
plinth · stele · monolith · sarcophagus · mausoleum · edifice · landmark · sculpture · arch · cairn
tomb
Underground chamber for remains
vault · mausoleum · cemetery · necropolis · tombstone · graveyard · interment · funerary · mortuary · catacomb
- cemeteriescemetery, graves, grave, burial, headstones
- funeralsfuneral, burial, cremation, casket, coffin
- cemeterygrave, headstone, headstones, graves, tombstone
- city monumentsEiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, Colosseum, Tower of Pisa
- civic landmarkscapitol, city gate, civic center, clock tower, courthouse
- memorialsmemorial, memorial service, memorial statue, memorials, war memorial
cenotaphtomb
Underground chamber for remains
burial site · grave · mausoleum · crypt · ossuary
cenotaphburial chamber
Room for interring remains
sarcophagus · coffin · casket · urn
cenotaphinterment
Putting a body underground
entombment · burial vault · family plot · gravesite · resting place