Stonehenge

American  

[stohn-henj] / ˈstoʊn hɛndʒ /

noun

1. a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England, consisting of a large circle of megaliths surrounding a smaller circle and four massive trilithons; dating to late Neolithic and early Bronze Age times (c1700–1200 b.c.) and believed to have been connected with a sun cult or used for astronomical observations.

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Stonehenge British  

/ ˌstəʊnˈhɛndʒ /

noun

1. a prehistoric ruin in S England, in Wiltshire on Salisbury Plain: constructed over the period of roughly 3000–1600 _bc ; one of the most important megalithic monuments in Europe; believed to have had religious and astronomical purposes

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Stonehenge Cultural  

1. Ancient circles of large, upright stones that stand alone on a plain in England. There is some controversy about who shaped, carried, and set up these huge stones, which perhaps had religious and astronomical uses. Scholars theorize that Stonehenge was built in three phases beginning in about 2800 b.c. The huge stones are believed to date from 1800 to 1500 b.c.

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Etymology

Origin of Stonehenge

cf. henge

Example Sentences

"If glaciers had carried rocks all the way from Scotland or Wales to Stonehenge, they would have left a clear mineral signature on the Salisbury Plain," Dr. Clarke said.

From Science Daily • Jan. 27, 2026

Among the places visited is Stonehenge, the megalith circle on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Thousands of revellers gathered at Stonehenge in Wiltshire on Sunday morning to welcome the sunrise on the winter solstice - the shortest day of the year.

From BBC • Dec. 21, 2025

“Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale,” due out in 2026, was his final directing credit.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025

In June 1877, he and Emma, along with Frank, Bernard, and the baby’s nursemaid, made a pilgrimage to the great prehistoric monument Stonehenge.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman