Monument
/ˈmɒnjʊmənt/
Definitions
2 meaningsA building, statue, or other structure erected to commemorate a person or event, or to serve as a landmark.
/ˈmɒnjʊmənt/
A structure built to commemorate a person or event.
The Eiffel Tower is a famous monument in Paris.
💡 Simply: Imagine a big statue or building that helps us remember someone important or a special event. Like the Statue of Liberty – that's a monument!
👶 For kids: A monument is something big that people make to help them remember someone or something special.
More Examples
They erected a monument in honor of the soldiers who died in the war.
The city council approved the construction of a monument to the town's founder.
The ancient monuments of Rome attract millions of tourists each year.
How It's Used
"The Lincoln Memorial is a monument to Abraham Lincoln."
"The architect designed a stunning monument for the city's center."
"Tourists flock to see the ancient monuments."
A person, thing, or action serving as a visible or tangible reminder of something.
/ˈmɒnjʊmənt/
A lasting example of something remarkable.
The invention of the lightbulb is a monument to human ingenuity.
💡 Simply: It's like when something amazing or important stays in people's minds for a long time, or when someone achieves greatness, and we recognize it.
👶 For kids: It can also mean something that everyone will remember for a long time, like when someone is super brave or does something special that people never forget.
More Examples
The singer's voice was a monument to her exceptional talent.
The artist's legacy would become a monument of the modern art movement.
This building is a monument to the city's resilience.
How It's Used
"Her book became a monument to courage."
"The novel stands as a monument to the author's genius."
Idioms & expressions
monumental task
A very large or difficult task.
"Organizing the event was a monumental task."
monumental failure
A very large or significant failure.
"The project's collapse was a monumental failure."
From Latin *monumentum* ('a reminder, memorial, tomb'), derived from *monere* ('to remind, advise').
The word has been used since the 14th century, originally referring to a commemorative structure. It has evolved to also describe things of enduring significance.
Memory tip
Think of a grand statue standing in a park, or a memorial building that has been around for years to help people remember things.