monumental
Americanadjective
-
like a monument, esp in large size, endurance, or importance
a monumental work of art
-
of, relating to, or being a monument
-
informal (intensifier)
monumental stupidity
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of monumental
From the Late Latin word monumentālis, dating back to 1595–1605. See monument, -al 1
Explanation
Whether it's a monumental effort requiring vast amounts of strength or a monumental cruise ship with eleven floors and five sets of elevators, the word monumental describes something imposing or massive in size. Monumental can also refer to something that's of outstanding importance or significance. A monumental decision for you would be one that changes your life — like the day you got engaged or when you decided to move to New York to be an actor. The word monumental can also be used if you're talking about a monument, a statue or structure commemorating a person or event. You might admire the monumental stonework on the statue in the town square.
Vocabulary lists containing monumental
The Maze Runner
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Stargirl
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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.
"If you want to study archaeology or monumental architecture, you also have to study French so you can read all the old documents written by the French," he told AFP in French.
From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2026
Binance is the world's biggest, which is part of what makes the hack so monumental.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Directing $1.57 trillion toward investments that deliver the greatest social benefit would be a monumental achievement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
The process felt monumental, she said, and nearly impossible to complete on her own.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
Archaeologists are familiar with such monumental structures from sites around the world—the best-known example is Stonehenge in Britain.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
