noun

monolith

MON-uh-lihth

Monolith (noun) means a single large block of stone, or something built from one, especially a large standing structure or monument. Example: “Ancient monoliths still stand at the edge of the field.”

noun

A single large block of stone, or something built from one, especially a large standing structure or monument.

"Ancient monoliths still stand at the edge of the field."

Something viewed as a single, massive, unchanging whole, especially an organization or system.

"The company was once seen as an unshakeable monolith of the industry."

How to use monolith

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA single giant block of stone, or, more loosely, something huge and rigidly uniform.

Common pairings

a stone monolith a corporate monolith

Word forms

monolithed past tense, monoliths plural, monoliths singular

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Ancient _____ still stand at the edge of the field.

Etymology

From French monolithe, from Greek monolithos, "made from a single stone" — combining "mono-" (single) with lithos (stone).

Origin: French

Frequently asked questions

What does “monolith” mean?

The word “monolith” means a single large block of stone, or something built from one, especially a large standing structure or monument. In plain terms, a single giant block of stone, or, more loosely, something huge and rigidly uniform.

How do you pronounce “monolith”?

“Monolith” is pronounced MON-uh-lihth (/ˈmɑn.əˌlɪθ/ in IPA).

How do you use “monolith” in a sentence?

Here is “monolith” used in a sentence: “Ancient monoliths still stand at the edge of the field.”

What part of speech is “monolith”?

“Monolith” is a noun.

Where does the word “monolith” come from?

The word “monolith” comes from French. From French monolithe, from Greek monolithos, "made from a single stone" — combining "mono-" (single) with lithos (stone).

How many meanings does “monolith” have?

“Monolith” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a single large block of stone, or something built from one, especially a large standing structure or monument.