edifice

[ed-uh-fis]

noun

1. a building, especially one of large size or imposing appearance.

2. any large, complex system or organization.

edifice

/ ˌɛdɪˈfɪʃəl, ˈɛdɪfɪs /

noun

1. a building, esp a large or imposing one

2. a complex or elaborate institution or organization

Other Word Forms

• edificial adjective
• unedificial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of edifice¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French < Latin aedificium, equivalent to aedific ( āre ) to build ( edify ) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of edifice¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin aedificium, from aedificāre to build; see _edify

Synonym Study

See building.

Example Sentences

It’s a procession of people with nothing in common save the desire to climb the steps and enter this edifice: a public library in the middle of Ohio.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But starting with Ronald Reagan, the White House incumbent has shown up at the curved edifice on First Avenue to bloviate, shutting down Manhattan traffic for a full day, almost every September.

Read more on Salon

And then, the entire edifice crumbled as Baltimore became the focus and fall guy for one of the more infamous investigations of scientific misconduct in the last half of the 20th century.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There are no special effects or gimmicks to Hylen’s photos, no staging or posed imagery — he lets these forgotten edifices speak for themselves.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Littler is the beneficiary, but has added another story to the edifice.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• monument 
• skyscraper