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
1
A single large block of stone, or something built from one, especially a large standing structure or monument.
"The Washington Monument is often described as an obelisk, and sometimes even as a "true obelisk," even though it is not. A true obelisk is a monolith, a pylon formed out of a single piece of stone."
— Henry Petroski, The Washington Monument (2012)
"Ancient monoliths still stand at the edge of the field."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishA single giant block of stone, or, more loosely, something huge and rigidly uniform.
Common pairings
a stone monolith
a corporate monolith
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Word forms
- Plural
- monoliths
- Third person singular
- monoliths
- Past tense
- monolithed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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).
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.
