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

Davis’ party also always spotlights an industry behemoth, and this year, Republic Records co-founders Monte and Avery Lipman received their flowers as the 2026 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons honorees, which included a speech from Stevie Wonder. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026

This multi-panel behemoth, the exhibition’s namesake, presides over the gallery’s main space. —Theo Belci, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026

Among those on deck to deliver results next week are health care behemoths Eli Lilly , Merck and Pfizer . —Davis Giangiulio,christopher Hayes, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026

On the fourth day of his civil fraud trial, Brian Watson put the blame on retail behemoth Amazon. —Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 30 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

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

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