Monumental
/ˌmɒnjʊˈmɛntəl/
Definitions
Extremely large or significant; impressive.
/ˌmɒnjʊˈmɛntəl/
Extremely large or great; of great importance or significance.
The invention of the printing press was a monumental achievement.
💡 Simply: Think of something super huge or really important, like a giant statue that makes you say, 'Wow!' Or a really big deal that changes things forever. Like, building the tallest building in the world is a monumental achievement!
👶 For kids: Really, really big or important, like a giant statue or a very big deal.
More Examples
Building the pyramids was a monumental feat of engineering.
The impact of climate change is a monumental challenge for humanity.
How It's Used
"The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls was a monumental event in biblical studies."
"The civil rights movement had a monumental impact on American society."
"The Great Pyramid of Giza is a monumental structure."
Synonyms
From Latin *monumentalis*, meaning 'of a monument,' from *monumentum* ('monument'). The word's usage expanded from referring to physical monuments to signifying great size, importance, or significance.
The word 'monumental' has been used since the 16th century, initially to describe physical structures and gradually evolving to describe things of great importance.
Memory tip
Imagine a MONUMENT, like the Statue of Liberty. It's MONUMENTAL in size and symbol.