obelisk

noun

obe·​lisk ˈä-bə-ˌlisk 

also ˈō-

1

: an upright 4-sided usually monolithic pillar that gradually tapers as it rises and terminates in a pyramid

2

a

: obelus

b

: dagger sense 2b

Illustration of obelisk

• obelisk 1

Examples of obelisk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The section of the wall that police broke through to rescue those trapped inside Pulse—the breach wall—will be embedded beneath the obelisk. — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

The presidential center — with its obelisk-like tower — is located in Jackson Park at the end of the Midway Plaisance. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 15 June 2026

The Women's Garden is another impressive green space on the opposite side of the obelisk as the Great Lawn that honors the Suffrage Movement. — Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026

The line was marked then, as now, by obelisks, 276 of them today, placed roughly within view of one another from El Paso west to the Pacific Ocean ‒ an early attempt to harden the line in the sand. — Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 28 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin obeliscus "four-sided pillar," borrowed from Greek obelískos "skewer, four-sided pillar," diminutive of obelós "spit, four-sided pillar" — more at obelus

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for obelisk

• basilisk
• bisque
• brisk
• disc
• disk
• fisc
• fisk
• frisk
• risk
• whisk
• videodisc

Kids Definition

obelisk

noun

obe·​lisk ˈäb-ə-ˌlisk 

: a four-sided pillar that becomes narrower toward the top and ends in a pyramid