monument

noun mon·u·ment \ ˈmän-yə-mənt \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of monument

1 obsolete : a burial vault : sepulchre

2 : a written legal document or record : treatise

3 a (1) : a lasting evidence, reminder, or example of someone or something notable or great

(2) : a distinguished person

b : a memorial stone or a building erected in remembrance of a person or event

4 archaic : an identifying mark : evidence; also : portent, sign

5 obsolete : a carved statue : effigy

6 : a boundary or position marker (such as a stone)

7 : national monument

8 : a written tribute

See monument defined for English-language learners

See monument defined for kids

Examples of monument in a Sentence

They have erected a monument in his honor.
the Quakers disapproved of monuments, regarding them as idolatrous, so thousands of Nantucketers spend their eternal rest in complete anonymity

Recent Examples of monument from the Web

Directly on the border is Tijuana’s Plaza Monumental bullring as well as the international border monument.

— james clark, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Meet the neighbors with Tijuana daytrip," 19 Apr. 2018
Roosevelt, says James Barber, historian and curator at the National Portrait Gallery, was chosen to represent the nation’s development and to carry the monument’s narrative into the 20th century.

— anna diamond, Smithsonian, "What’s the Difference Between Moths and Butterflies and More Questions From Our Readers," 19 Apr. 2018
The immense earthworks the war left in Europe and Asia will endure long after the official monuments have been carted off to make room for new subdivisions.

— maya dukmasova, Chicago Reader, "Archive Dive / History / News On winning wars and losing memories," 18 Apr. 2018
Fishing groups said the monument takes too large of an area away from fishermen.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Trump administration defends Obama’s Atlantic monument," 17 Apr. 2018
The Sims statue is the only monument in the city that the commission recommended to move.

— tribune news service, AL.com, "Statue of Alabama doctor who experimented on slaves removed from NYC's Central Park," 17 Apr. 2018
Zembo, 26, came to the monument in February after working on Public Square for three years for the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.

— james f. mccarty, cleveland.com, "Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument provides tours of tunnels with new guide," 16 Apr. 2018
Sheffield Hale, president and chief executive officer of the Atlanta History Center, wrote that context should be added whether the monuments are moved or not.

— martha waggoner, Fox News, "Historians: Civil War statues need context, should be moved," 13 Apr. 2018
These are the monuments that appear on most film historians’ maps.

— donna rifkind, WSJ, "‘Nobody’s Girl Friday’ Review: All They Needed Was a Chance," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'monument.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of monument

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin monumentum, literally, memorial, from monēre to remind — more at mind

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

monument Synonyms

Synonyms

gravestone, headstone, stone, tombstone;

Related Words

cross, marker, plaque, table, tablet;

monolith, obelisk, pillar;

memorial, shrine;

burial, sepulchre (or sepulcher), sepulture, tomb;

MONUMENT Defined for English Language Learners

monument

noun

Definition of monument for English Language Learners

: a building, statue, etc., that honors a person or event
: a building or place that is important because of when it was built or because of something in history that happened there
: an example of something

MONUMENT Defined for Kids

monument

noun mon·u·ment \ ˈmän-yə-mənt \

Definition of monument for Students

1 : a structure (as a building, stone, or statue) made to keep alive the memory of a person or event

2 : something that serves as a good reminder or example

“That is a monument to the foolishness of love.”
—Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux

Learn More about monument

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for monument Spanish Central: Translation of monument Nglish: Translation of monument for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of monument for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about monument

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monument

Definition of monument

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Origin and Etymology of monument

monument Synonyms

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MONUMENT Defined for English Language Learners

monument

Definition of monument for English Language Learners

MONUMENT Defined for Kids

monument

Definition of monument for Students

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Definition of monument

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MONUMENT Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of monument for English Language Learners

MONUMENT Defined for Kids

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Definition of monument for Students

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