behemoth

noun

be·​he·​moth bi-ˈhē-məth  ˈbē-ə-məth 

-ˌmäth, 

-ˌmȯth

often attributive

1

often Behemoth religion : a mighty animal described in Job 40:15–24 as an example of the power of God

2

: something of monstrous size, power, or appearance

a behemoth truck

Did you know?

In the biblical book of Job, Behemoth is the name of a powerful grass-eating, river-dwelling beast with bones likened to bronze pipes and limbs likened to iron bars. Scholars have speculated that the biblical creature was inspired by the hippopotamus, but details about the creature’s exact nature are vague. The word first passed from the Hebrew word bĕhēmōth into Late Latin (the Latin used by writers in the third to sixth centuries), where, according to 15th century English poet and monk John Lydgate it referred to "a beast rude full of cursednesse." In modern English, behemoth functions as an evocative term for something of monstrous size, power, or appearance.

Synonyms of behemoth

• giant
• whale
• monster
• dinosaur
• mammoth

Examples of behemoth in a Sentence

the newest SUV is a gas-guzzling behemoth that doesn't even fit in a standard parking space

Recent Examples on the Web

Valentino Garavani—an Italian fashion industry behemoth who helped shape designer luxury and couture—has died at age 93. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026

The trade deal also cements Taiwan’s central role in global chipmaking, a day after semiconductor behemoth TSMC pledged to spend as much as $56 billion on strengthening its manufacturing capacity. —Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026

Kelson sees the fragments of the individual left in this person the virus has turned into a brain-devouring behemoth and wonders at them. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2026

Among the dozens of companies are auto behemoths, tech giants and self-driving startups — Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Zoox, Apollo and Qualcomm. —Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin, from Hebrew bĕhēmōth

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

behemoth

noun

be·​he·​moth bi-ˈhē-məth  ˈbē-ə-ˌməth 

-ˌmäth, 

-ˌmȯth

1

often capitalized : an animal described in the Bible that is probably the hippopotamus

2

: something of monstrous size or power