edifice

[ ed-uh-fis ]
/ ˈɛd ə fɪs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR edifice ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a building, especially one of large size or imposing appearance.
any large, complex system or organization.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of edifice

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

synonym study for edifice

1. See building.

OTHER WORDS FROM edifice

ed·i·fi·cial [ed-uh-fish-uhl], /ˌɛd əˈfɪʃ əl/, adjectiveun·ed·i·fi·cial, adjective

Words nearby edifice

edict, Edict of Nantes, Edie, edification, edificatory, edifice, edify, edile, Edina, Edinburg, Edinburgh
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to edifice

skyscraper, monument, building, house, construction, pile, habitation, erection, towers

Example sentences from the Web for edifice

British Dictionary definitions for edifice

edifice
/ (ˈɛdɪfɪs) /

noun

a building, esp a large or imposing one
a complex or elaborate institution or organization

Derived forms of edifice

edificial (ˌɛdɪˈfɪʃəl), adjective

Word Origin for edifice

C14: from Old French, from Latin aedificium, from aedificāre to build; see edify
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012