English Reference
adjective

monumental

adj.
US /ˌmɑnjəˈmɛnəɫ/ UK /mˌɒnjuːmˈɛntəl/ mon·u·men·tal

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    very large, grand, and impressive to look at.

    characterised by imposing size, grandeur, or scale.

    Simple

    The city is famous for its monumental stone arches and wide streets.

    In context

    The architect's vision was realised in a monumental structure that dominated the skyline, blending classical proportions with modern materials.

    smallunimpressive
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    having great and lasting importance.

    of outstanding significance or historical importance.

    Simple

    The discovery of the new vaccine was a monumental moment in medicine.

    In context

    The signing of the peace treaty was a monumental achievement that ended decades of systemic conflict in the region.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal

    taking a huge amount of time, work, and effort to finish.

    requiring or showing an immense expenditure of effort and persistence.

    Simple

    Writing the three-volume history book was a monumental task.

    In context

    Compiling the national archive proved to be a monumental undertaking that required the coordination of hundreds of researchers over a decade.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Technical Archaeology

    connected to or serving as a monument.

    pertaining to, or serving as, a monument or memorial.

    Simple

    The museum has a collection of monumental inscriptions from ancient Rome.

    In context

    The site is notable for its monumental brasses, which provide detailed genealogical information about the local nobility of the fourteenth century.

Chelsea were creative and Lauren James was at her free-flowing best, but they could not convert their many chances, and the new Villa goalkeeper Akane Okuma’s monumental performance was a big part of that.

The Guardian· 5 Sept 2026

Though a monumental task, Davison says that they caught a break.

Smithsonian Magazine· 25 Feb 2016

Borrowed from Late Latin monumentālis, from Latin monumentum; equivalent to monument + -al.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin monumentum
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated