edifice
n. C1 Advanced US //ˈɛdəfəs// UK //ˈɛdɪfɪs// ed·i·fice
n. a large, impressive building or structure. It can also mean a strong system of ideas or beliefs that supports a society.
n. a large, impressive building or structure; by extension, a complex system of ideas or beliefs that supports a social or political order.
The city's skyline is dominated by a massive stone edifice.
The government built a new edifice to house the national museum of history.
The philosopher argued that the collapse of the old edifice was necessary for the emergence of a more equitable social contract.
From Middle English edifice, from Old French edifice, a classical borrowing of Latin aedificium (“building”), derived from aedificāre (“to build, establish”) (whence also English edify).