obelisk

noun

obe·​lisk ˈä-bə-ˌlisk 

also ˈō-

1

: an upright 4-sided usually monolithic pillar that gradually tapers as it rises and terminates in a pyramid

2

a

: obelus

b

: dagger sense 2b

Illustration of obelisk

• obelisk 1

Examples of obelisk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Washington Monument's architect, Robert Mills, was picked to design the obelisk on the National Mall after his sketches won an open design competition in 1814. — Chiara Eisner, NPR, 8 July 2026

Two of Georgia's three signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried below the Signers' Monument, a 50-foot white granite obelisk in downtown Augusta. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 30 June 2026

The line was marked then, as now, by obelisks, 276 of them today, placed roughly within view of one another from El Paso west to the Pacific Ocean ‒ an early attempt to harden the line in the sand. — Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 28 June 2026

The park commemorates the battle of King’s Mountain, a significant victory in the revolutionary war, and offers a variety of outdoor activities and an obelisk monument, for those wishing to memorialize the revolutionary spirit. — Eva Flowe june 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin obeliscus "four-sided pillar," borrowed from Greek obelískos "skewer, four-sided pillar," diminutive of obelós "spit, four-sided pillar" — more at obelus

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for obelisk

• basilisk
• bisque
• brisk
• disc
• disk
• fisc
• fisk
• frisk
• risk
• whisk
• videodisc

Kids Definition

obelisk

noun

obe·​lisk ˈäb-ə-ˌlisk 

: a four-sided pillar that becomes narrower toward the top and ends in a pyramid