monolithic

adjective

mono·​lith·​ic ˌmä-nə-ˈli-thik 

1

a

: of, relating to, or resembling a monolith : huge, massive

a large monolithic building

an influential monolithic organization

b(1)

: formed from a single crystal

a monolithic silicon chip

(2)

: produced in or on a monolithic chip (see chip entry 1 sense 6b)

a monolithic circuit

2

a

: cast as a single piece

a monolithic concrete wall

b

: formed or composed of material without joints or seams

a monolithic floor covering

c

: consisting of or constituting a single unit

3

a

: constituting a massive undifferentiated and often rigid whole

a monolithic society

b

: exhibiting or characterized by often rigidly fixed uniformity

monolithic party unity

monolithically

ˌmä-nə-ˈli-thi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of monolithic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Obesity, after all, is not monolithic. —Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 28 Nov. 2025

Defense innovation is shifting from large, monolithic programs to continuous upgrade cycles—less like shipbuilding and more like cloud software. —Alexandrine Armstrong-Cerfontaine, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025

In fact, many nations have prospered without being so monolithic, and there are shades of nationalism, multiculturalism, and liberalism, which allow countries to thrive without making black-and-white choices. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2025

But the Black experience is obviously not monolithic. —NBC news, 26 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see monolith

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for monolithic

• chalcolithic
• megalithic
• mesolithic
• neolithic
• lithic
• mythic
• paleolithic