megalith

American  

[meg-uh-lith] / ˈmɛg ə lɪθ /

noun

1. a stone of great size, especially in ancient construction work, as the Cyclopean masonry, or in prehistoric Neolithic remains, as dolmens or menhirs.

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megalith British  

/ ˈmɛɡəlɪθ /

noun

1. a stone of great size, esp one forming part of a prehistoric monument See also alignment circle

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Other Word Forms

• megalithic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of megalith

First recorded in 1850–55; mega- + -lith

Example Sentences

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

"This differs from what we usually see in megalith graves, i.e. stone burial chambers from the Neolithic period," Karl-Göran Sjögren explains.

From Science Daily • Jan. 29, 2024

A bigger company can negotiate better terms with the megalith, hold the line against its profit-busting discounts.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2020

Visitors will see a Tibetan Buddhist stupa, a 40-foot diameter stone circle, Nuu-chan-nulth tribal medicine wheels created for Earth Sanctuary, a dolmen megalith, contemporary art and more.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 17, 2020

With a queer little twinge of infringed proprietorship, the doctor saw Sir Richmond step up on the prostrate megalith and stand beside her, the better to appreciate her point of view.

From Secret Places of the Heart by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)