Standard Lemma guide

Calvary

name · noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈkæl.v(ə.)ɹi/
  • CMU ARPABET: K AE1 L V ER0 IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

name

Meaning 1

The hill outside Jerusalem which is traditionally held to be the location of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Golgotha

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A life-size representation of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on a piece of raised ground.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A series of representations of Christ’s Passion in a church.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A type of monumental public Christian cross, sometimes encased in an open shrine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Calvaries are typical of Galicia (Spain) and Portugal.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A strenuous experience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Misspelling of cavalry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, misspelling

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

any experience that causes intense suffering

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: martyrdom

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: affliction

8

noun

Meaning 8

a hill near Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Golgotha

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hill

History

Etymology

From Middle English Calvarie, from Latin calvāria (“skull”).

From Late Latin calvāria (“skull”). Doublet of calavera and calvaria.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: Golgota — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Chinese Cantonese: 加略山 (gaa1 loek6 saan1) — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Chinese Mandarin: 加略山 (Jiālüè Shān) — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Chinese Mandarin: 髑髏地 /髑髅地 (Dúlóudì) — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • French: Calvaire — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Greek: Κρανίου τόπος (Kraníou tópos) — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Greek: Γολγοθάς (Golgothás) — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Irish: Calvaire — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Italian: Calvario — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Latin: Calvarium — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Norwegian Bokmål: Hodeskallen — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: Hovudskallen — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: Skallen — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Polish: Kalwaria — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Polish: Golgota — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Portuguese: Calvário — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Scottish Gaelic: Calbhari — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Spanish: Calvario — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Tagalog: Kalbaryo — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • Vietnamese: Canvê — the hill outside Jerusalem — see also Golgotha
  • French: calvaire — a life-size representation of the crucifixion
  • Italian: calvario — a life-size representation of the crucifixion
  • Portuguese: calvário — a life-size representation of the crucifixion
  • Romanian: calvar — a life-size representation of the crucifixion
  • Spanish: calvario — a life-size representation of the crucifixion
  • French: calvaire — a type of public monument
  • Galician: cruceiro — a type of public monument
  • German: Calvaire — a type of public monument
  • Portuguese: cruzeiro — a type of public monument
  • Spanish: crucero — a type of public monument
Real reading context

Calvary in complete knowledge articles