Definition

Noun: 1. A structure built to commemorate a person, event, or concept: A physical object, often large and made of stone or metal, created to honor and remember someone or something important. 2. An important site preserved for public interest: A place, building, or area of historical, cultural, or archaeological significance that is protected and maintained. 3. A lasting and impressive example or achievement: Something that serves as a notable, enduring, and often admirable model of a particular quality or field.

Examples of Usage

• Commemorative Structure:
  • The Washington Monument is a famous obelisk in the capital.
  • They built a simple stone monument to honor the soldiers who fell in the battle.
• Preserved Site:
  • The ancient ruins are protected as a national monument.
  • The house where the author lived is now a historical monument.
• Enduring Example:
  • His book is a monument of modern philosophy.
  • The old bridge is a monument to 19th-century engineering.

Advanced Usage

• "a monument to something": Used to describe something that stands as a clear, often physical, testament to a particular quality, era, or effort.
  • The library is a monument to his generosity and love of learning.
  • The abandoned factory is a sad monument to the city's industrial past.

Variants and Related Words

• Monumental (adjective):
  • Extremely large, great, or impressive in size or scale.

    • They undertook a monumental task.
  • Of great historical or enduring significance.

    • It was a monumental achievement for the team.

Synonyms

• Memorial: Something, especially a structure, established to remind people of a person or event.
• Landmark: A recognizable natural or artificial feature used for navigation, or a building or site of historical importance.
• Testament: Something that serves as a sign or evidence of a fact or event (often used figuratively).

Related Phrases

• National Monument: A protected area or site designated by a nation's government as having cultural, historical, or scientific significance.
• Ancient Monument: A structure or site of historical interest from ancient times, often given legal protection.

Related Idioms

• A monument to folly: Something that is considered a foolish and wasteful undertaking, serving as a lasting reminder of poor judgment.
  • Many considered the extravagant palace a monument to the king's folly.

Noun

1. a burial vault (usually for some famous person)
2. an important site that is marked and preserved as public property
3. a structure erected to commemorate persons or events