monolithic
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to a monolith.
-
made of only one stone.
a monolithic column.
-
consisting of one piece; solid or unbroken.
a boat with a monolithic hull.
-
constructed of monoliths or huge blocks of stone.
the monolithic monuments of the New Stone Age.
-
characterized by massiveness, total uniformity, rigidity, invulnerability, etc..
a monolithic society.
-
Electronics. of or relating to an integrated circuit formed in a single chip.
adjective
-
of, relating to, or like a monolith
-
characterized by hugeness, impenetrability, or intractability
a monolithic government
-
electronics (of an integrated circuit) having all components manufactured into or on top of a single chip of silicon See hybrid
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of monolithic
Explanation
When something is monolithic it's big, and made of one thing. A large piece of stone jutting from the earth is a monolith, and Detroit's economy when it depended entirely on the auto industry was monolithic. Broken into its roots mono and lithic, monolithic means simply "one stone." When monolithic is used to describe something societal — like a religion or an organization — it has a slightly negative connotation. For example, a monolithic society is rigid and homogenous, not open to new ideas. Being monolithic is good for rocks, but not so good for groups of people.
Vocabulary lists containing monolithic
The Pearl
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "M"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Dune
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Data centers still need the power chips Monolithic makes to deliver stable energy to AI servers.
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
"Monolithic 3D integration has the potential to reshape the entire electronics and computing industry by enabling the development of more compact, powerful and energy-efficient devices," Bae said.
From Science Daily • Nov. 30, 2023
For the current quarter ending in September, Monolithic said it expects revenue in the range of $464 million to $484 million.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 1, 2023
Monolithic systems can be easier to build, but critics say they become hopelessly complex when something goes wrong.
From Reuters • Dec. 4, 2019
Monolithic sarcophagi have been found which give eloquent testimony of the absorption by them of Roman culture.
From Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 5 Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland, Part 1 by Halsey, Francis W. (Francis Whiting)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
