cairn

noun

ˈkern 

: a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or as a landmark

cairned

ˈkernd 

adjective

Examples of cairn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Park Service recommends that people not disturb, knock down or add to cairns, though some parks caution visitors not to rely on them as official pathways. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026

Above the glacial lake Ullswater, prehistoric cairns and burial mounds dot the high moorland, including the Cockpit Stone Circle, which spans 90 feet. —Andrea Bussell, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025

Young Hopi men traditionally descended the rugged Salt Trail to the Little Colorado and Sípàapuni, contributing rocks to a cairn that still stands along the route and gathering salt to bring home. —Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025

Adam picked up a stone to top off each cairn. —Stephanie Danler, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots) carne, from Scottish Gaelic carn; akin to Old Irish & Welsh carn cairn

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cairn

• cairn terrier

Rhymes for cairn

• bairn
• moderne
• relearn
• unlearn

Kids Definition

cairn

noun

ˈka(ə)rn 

ˈke(ə)rn

: a heap of stones piled up as a landmark or as a memorial