# monument

/ˈmɑnjəmənt/ (US) · /mˈɒnjuːmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/monument
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. commemorative structure

noun · CEFR B2

a statue, building, or other structure built to help people remember a famous person or important event.

For teachers: a structure, such as a statue or building, erected to commemorate a person or event.

- The city built a large stone monument to honor the soldiers who died in the war.
- The granite monument stands at the center of the square, serving as a permanent tribute to the activists who led the reform movement.

### 2. historic site

noun · CEFR B2

a place or building that is important because of its history and is protected by the government.

For teachers: a site, building, or archaeological remain preserved for its historical, cultural, or scientific importance.

- Ancient stone circles are protected as national monuments in many countries.
- The government designated the ruins of the medieval castle as a protected monument to prevent further urban encroachment.

### 3. lasting example

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

something that is a very good or lasting example of a particular quality or achievement.

For teachers: an enduring and significant example of a particular quality, achievement, or human endeavor. Often used with 'to'.

- The scientist's research is a monument to her hard work and dedication.
- The cathedral remains a monument to the architectural ingenuity of the twelfth century, surviving centuries of conflict and weather.

### 4. grave marker

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a stone or structure placed over a grave to show who is buried there.

For teachers: a stone, pillar, or structure marking a place of interment.

- They placed a simple marble monument over the grave of the famous poet.
- The cemetery is filled with elaborate Victorian monuments that reflect the social status of the families buried beneath them.

### 5. surveying marker

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a permanent object used by experts to mark a specific point on the land.

For teachers: a permanent marker set by a land surveyor to establish property boundaries or geodetic control points.

- The surveyor looked for the iron monument that marked the corner of the property.
- The boundary dispute was finally settled when the original brass monument was located beneath several inches of topsoil.

### 6. to memorialize

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to build a monument for someone or something.

For teachers: to commemorate or mark a location or person with a monument.

- The committee decided to monument the site where the treaty was signed.
- The project aims to monument the forgotten heroes of the revolution by placing plaques at key historical locations throughout the city.

## Examples

- The city built a monument to honor the fallen soldiers.
- The ancient stone circle stands as a monument to the engineering skills of people from thousands of years ago.
- While many view the cathedral as a religious site, it also serves as a monument to the architectural transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style.

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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.