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

Only the Reading Road tower and obelisk at Fifth and Pike are listed on the city’s website. —Jeff Suess, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2025

The Obelisco collection pays homage to the obelisks originally built at the entrances of Egyptian temples at the top of pyramids to evoke the sun’s rays to honor the Sun God Ra. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025

The monument in the style of an Egyptian obelisk, designed by architect Robert Mills, stands over 550 feet tall and is 55 feet wide at its base. —Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 5 Dec. 2025

The glass obelisk would have been the tallest building in Europe, had Donald Trump’s aides managed to get the deal done in the campaign summer of 2016. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 1 Dec. 2025

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

Kids Definition

obelisk

noun

obe·​lisk ˈäb-ə-ˌlisk 

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