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

Metallica has set its debut “Life Burns Faster” residency at the mind-bending audio-visual monolith for Oct.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

However, “the software market is trading like a monolith and investors are largely not differentiating risk profiles, competitive positioning and fundamentals of specific companies,” Bhatia noted.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

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 • Jan. 12, 2026

One of the things I’m trying to make clear in my reporting is that Wikipedia is not a political monolith, one way or the other.

From Slate • Nov. 17, 2025

A moss-eaten stone monolith loomed over the road, fifty feet tall.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin