national monument

American

noun

a monument, as a historic site or geographical area, owned and maintained in the public interest by the federal government.

Etymology

Origin of national monument

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Compare meaning

How does national-monument compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

national monument vs. national park

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.

Then-President Barack Obama declared it a national monument the following year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

The ceremony took place at the historic Les Invalides national monument, the resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte, in the presence of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, top left-wing politicians, and other high-profile guests.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Within a decade of Ellis Island’s closure in 1954, it had become a national monument.

From Slate • Jul. 17, 2025

Former President Barack Obama designated it a US national monument in 2016.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2025

In the years that followed, the Johnston Ridge Observatory was built there as a formal part of the national monument.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023