Stonehenge

American  

[stohn-henj] / ˈstoʊn hɛndʒ /

noun

1. a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England, consisting of a large circle of megaliths surrounding a smaller circle and four massive trilithons; dating to late Neolithic and early Bronze Age times (c1700–1200 b.c.) and believed to have been connected with a sun cult or used for astronomical observations.

---

Stonehenge British  

/ ˌstəʊnˈhɛndʒ /

noun

1. a prehistoric ruin in S England, in Wiltshire on Salisbury Plain: constructed over the period of roughly 3000–1600 _bc ; one of the most important megalithic monuments in Europe; believed to have had religious and astronomical purposes

---

Stonehenge Cultural  

1. Ancient circles of large, upright stones that stand alone on a plain in England. There is some controversy about who shaped, carried, and set up these huge stones, which perhaps had religious and astronomical uses. Scholars theorize that Stonehenge was built in three phases beginning in about 2800 b.c. The huge stones are believed to date from 1800 to 1500 b.c.

---

Etymology

Origin of Stonehenge

cf. henge

Example Sentences

The huge stones at Stonehenge are precisely placed to line up with the Sun.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

"The study demonstrates how combining geological analysis with computer modeling can help resolve long-standing questions about how Stonehenge was built."

From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026

That design element is a salute to the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, where 10 vintage Cadillacs are buried nose-first in the ground that to many resembles a 20th century Stonehenge.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Stonehenge in June 2024 set against a backdrop of wonderful pink and yellow Northern Lights.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Their material cultures were simpler, too—no writing, no stone plazas, no massive temples—though Plains groups did leave behind about fifty rings of rock that are reminiscent of Stonehenge.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann