national monument

American  

noun

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

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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

See Examples For:

national monument

Late Friday, the president visited the Mount Rushmore national monument for an address under the gaze of the giant granite heads of four of his legendary predecessors.

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026

The national monument to the late Queen Elizabeth II will feature a statue of her standing, rather than on horseback as previously illustrated, the memorial committee has announced.

From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2026

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

From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2025

"White! It's the purest white that can be found. Nobody makes a paint any whiter. This batch right here is heading for a national monument!"

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison