monumental

[ mon-yuh-men-tl ]

/ ˌmɒn yəˈmɛn tl /

adjective

resembling a monument; massive or imposing.

exceptionally great, as in quantity, quality, extent, or degree: a monumental work.

of historical or enduring significance: a monumental victory.

Fine Arts. having the quality of being larger than life; of heroic scale.

of or relating to a monument or monuments.

serving as a monument.

Nearby words

montrose, montserrat, montville, monty python, monument, monumental, monumentalize, monumentally, monuron, mony, monza

Origin of monumental

From the Late Latin word monumentālis, dating back to 1595–1605. See monument, -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR monumental

1 immense, colossal.

Related forms

mon·u·men·tal·ism, nounmon·u·men·tal·i·ty, nounmon·u·men·tal·ly, adverbpre·mon·u·men·tal, adjective

un·mon·u·men·tal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for monumentality

monumental

/ (ˌmɒnjʊˈmɛntəl) /

adjective

like a monument, esp in large size, endurance, or importancea monumental work of art

of, relating to, or being a monument

informal (intensifier)monumental stupidity

Derived Formsmonumentality, nounmonumentally, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for monumentality

monumental

adj.

c.1600, "pertaining to a monument," from Late Latin monumentalis "pertaining to a monument," from monumentum (see monument). From 1650s in the loose sense of "vast, stupendous." Related: Monumentally.