boneyard
A boneyard is a place where old, discarded, or obsolete items—typically large machinery like aircraft or vehicles—are stored or dismantled for parts. It is also an informal or regional term for a cemetery or burial ground.
Examples
3 of 5The old tractor was finally hauled away to the local boneyard for scrap metal.
The old tractor was finally hauled away to the local boneyard for scrap metal.
Archaeologists uncovered a prehistoric boneyard containing the remains of several mammoths.
Archaeologists uncovered a prehistoric boneyard containing the remains of several mammoths.
My desktop is a boneyard of half-finished projects and corrupted files.
My desktop is a boneyard of half-finished projects and corrupted files.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'yard' filled with the white 'bones' (the skeletons or frames) of old airplanes bleaching in the desert sun.
Quick Quiz
The company’s failed prototypes were all relegated to the technical _____, never to be seen by the public.
Correct!
The correct answer is: boneyard
Examples
The old tractor was finally hauled away to the local boneyard for scrap metal.
everydayThe old tractor was finally hauled away to the local boneyard for scrap metal.
Archaeologists uncovered a prehistoric boneyard containing the remains of several mammoths.
formalArchaeologists uncovered a prehistoric boneyard containing the remains of several mammoths.
My desktop is a boneyard of half-finished projects and corrupted files.
informalMy desktop is a boneyard of half-finished projects and corrupted files.
The study examines the environmental impact of decommissioned naval vessels in the coastal boneyard.
academicThe study examines the environmental impact of decommissioned naval vessels in the coastal boneyard.
If we don't secure more funding, this entire initiative is headed for the corporate boneyard.
businessIf we don't secure more funding, this entire initiative is headed for the corporate boneyard.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
sent to the boneyard
retired or discarded because it is no longer useful
a boneyard of ideas
a collection of concepts that were never implemented
raid the boneyard
to search through discarded items for useful parts
Often Confused With
A junkyard is specifically for scrap metal and trash, while a boneyard often implies specialized storage for machines like planes or ships.
Graveyard almost exclusively refers to human burials, whereas boneyard is more versatile and often refers to machines.
Usage Notes
The term is frequently used in the aviation and military industries to describe storage facilities in dry climates where metal doesn't rust. Metaphorically, it can describe any place where failed or outdated things accumulate.
Common Mistakes
Learners might use 'boneyard' in a very formal eulogy for a person, which can sound slightly disrespectful or overly casual; 'cemetery' is preferred in solemn contexts.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'yard' filled with the white 'bones' (the skeletons or frames) of old airplanes bleaching in the desert sun.
Word Origin
An American English compound word from 'bone' and 'yard,' appearing in the mid-19th century to describe cemeteries before expanding to industrial storage.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The United States Air Force maintains a famous 'Boneyard' at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, which houses thousands of retired military aircraft.
Quick Quiz
The company’s failed prototypes were all relegated to the technical _____, never to be seen by the public.
Correct!
The correct answer is: boneyard
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