monolith

American  

[mon-uh-lith] / ˈmɒn ə lɪθ /

noun

1. an obelisk, column, large statue, etc., formed of a single block of stone.

2. a single block or piece of stone of considerable size, especially when used in architecture or sculpture.

3. something having a uniform, massive, redoubtable, or inflexible quality or character.

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monolith British  

/ ˈmɒnəlɪθ /

noun

1. a large block of stone or anything that resembles one in appearance, intractability, etc

2. a statue, obelisk, column, etc, cut from one block of stone

3. a large hollow foundation piece sunk as a caisson and having a number of compartments that are filled with concrete when it has reached its correct position

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Other Word Forms

• monolithism noun

Etymology

Origin of monolith

First recorded in 1820–30; from Latin monolithus, from Greek monólithos “made of one stone”; equivalent to mono- + -lith

Example Sentences

Embedded in this idea of girl power, which is tremendous, obviously, is that as people, we are not a monolith, particularly as women.

From The Wall Street Journal

No community is a monolith, but one thing many Jewish Australians believe is that warnings about a rise of antisemitism in the months preceding this attack were ignored.

From BBC

If the fish-trap hypothesis is the right one, then the lines of protruding monoliths would have also supported a "net" made of sticks and branches to catch fish as the tide retreated.

From BBC

On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's historic capital sits a monolith of scaffolding.

From BBC

Latino voters are not a monolith; there are regional and cultural differences.

From Salon