# monolithic

/ˌmɑnəˈɫɪθɪk/ (US) · /mˌɒnəʊlˈɪθɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/monolithic
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. large and uniform

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

describes a large organisation or system that is very powerful and never changes.

For teachers: characterised by massiveness, total uniformity, and a lack of individual variation or internal flexibility.

- The company was a monolithic organisation where every office looked and acted exactly the same.
- Critics argued that the monolithic political system stifled local innovation by imposing a single, rigid set of rules across the entire country.

### 2. software architecture

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describes a computer program where all the parts are joined together in one big piece.

For teachers: referring to a software architecture where the entire application is composed as a single, indivisible unit.

- The team decided to break their monolithic software into smaller, easier pieces.
- While monolithic architectures are simpler to deploy initially, they often become difficult to scale as the codebase grows in complexity.

### 3. made of one stone

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

made from a single, large piece of stone.

For teachers: formed or carved from a single block of stone; relating to or resembling a monolith.

- The ancient temple featured several monolithic columns carved from solid granite.
- The archaeologists were fascinated by the monolithic statues, wondering how such massive single stones were transported across the desert.

## Examples

- The ancient temple was built from a single monolithic block of stone.
- The company's monolithic structure made it difficult for the new manager to implement any significant changes to the workflow.
- While the monolithic architecture of the cathedral provides a sense of overwhelming stability, it also makes the building vulnerable to structural failure if any single pillar is compromised.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.