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 monument in the style of an Egyptian obelisk, designed by architect Robert Mills, stands over 550 feet tall and is 55 feet wide at its base. —Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 5 Dec. 2025

The glass obelisk would have been the tallest building in Europe, had Donald Trump’s aides managed to get the deal done in the campaign summer of 2016. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 1 Dec. 2025

In 1922 the mayor of Baltimore dedicated a 25-foot wood and plaster obelisk as a monument for the 130 children who died in motor accidents that year. —Scott D. Anthony, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025

Andrew Leyden, a freelance photographer in Washington, D.C., posted photos of the scene from the top of the obelisk on X last week. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025

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

Kids Definition

obelisk

noun

obe·​lisk ˈäb-ə-ˌlisk 

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