monument

monument — noun

1. a structure built to keep alive the memory of a great person or a notable event

1.nounB1
Definition

a structure built to keep alive the memory of a great person or a notable event

Example

A monument to the poet Rumi now stands in the main square of the old city.

monument + to + person (purpose)

The mayor unveiled a stone monument honouring the firefighters who died in the blaze.

Common collocations
  • erect a monument
  • build a monument
  • unveil a monument
  • granite monument
  • bronze monument
  • marble monument
Synonyms
  • memorial

    often used for structures that specifically honour the dead; more sombre in tone

  • statue

    a carved or cast figure of a person or animal, which may or may not be commemorative

  • shrine

    a holy or sacred place linked to a religious figure; purpose is spiritual devotion rather than public honour

Grammar Patterns

monument + to + person/event

monument + for + event

monument + of + material

Common Mistakes

I visited a monument of the president.
I visited a monument to the president.
Use 'to' (not 'of') when specifying who or what a monument honours.

2. a building, site, or area from the past that the government protects because of

2.nounB1
Definition

a building, site, or area from the past that the government protects because of its value to the nation's history or culture

Example

The old castle on the hill is one of the most popular historic monuments in the region.

historic monument (common collocation)

Visitors must not touch the walls of the ancient monument inside the temple grounds.

Common collocations
  • ancient monument
  • historic monument
  • national monument
  • protected monument
  • listed monument
  • scheduled monument
Synonyms
  • landmark

    an easily recognised feature of a landscape or city; may lack official protected status

  • historic site

    a place of historical importance, often covering a larger area than a single monument

  • ruin

    a monument that has been partly destroyed or fallen into decay

Grammar Patterns

historic/ancient/national + monument

monument + is + adjective + to be preserved

Usage Note

Frequently paired with adjectives like 'ancient', 'historic', 'national', or 'protected'. In British English, a 'scheduled monument' has specific legal protection.

Common Mistakes

That cafe is a famous monument in our city.
That castle is a famous historic monument in our region.
'monument' implies cultural or historical importance; an ordinary building should not be called a monument.

3. something that continues to exist as a powerful example or reminder of a particu

3.nounB2
Definition

something that continues to exist as a powerful example or reminder of a particular quality, achievement, or type of person

Example

Her collection of paintings is a monument to her lifelong love of Mexican folk art.

be a monument to + quality (figurative use)

The old railway station stands as a monument to the city's industrial history.

stands as a monument to (common figurative pattern)

Common collocations
  • lasting monument
  • enduring monument
  • living monument
  • stands as a monument
  • monument to hard work
  • monument to courage
Synonyms
  • testament

    more abstract; often used for evidence of a quality rather than a physical thing ('a testament to her skill')

  • tribute

    can be an action or gift given to show respect, not necessarily a lasting thing

  • symbol

    broader in meaning; represents something by association rather than standing as its direct evidence

Grammar Patterns

be a monument to + abstract noun

stand as a monument to + abstract noun

remain a monument to + abstract noun

Usage Note

This figurative sense almost always appears with 'to' introducing an abstract quality or achievement. The subject is usually something that can be seen or experienced — a book, a building, a collection, a career.

Common Mistakes

His expensive car is a monument to his wealth.
His scholarship fund is a monument to his generosity.
The figurative 'monument' should refer to something lasting and admirable, not a material possession.

Word family

  • monumental
    adjectiveB2
  • monumentally
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A 'monument' is a structure built specifically to honour a person or event and to keep their memory alive. A 'memorial' is very similar but often focuses on remembering those who have died (e.g. a war memorial) and can be less tangible (e.g. a memorial fund). A 'statue' is a carved or cast figure of a person or animal — it can be part of a monument, but many statues are purely artistic and not commemorative. A 'shrine' is a holy place linked to a religious figure or saint; its purpose is spiritual devotion, not public honour. A 'landmark' is any easily recognised feature of a landscape or city that helps people find their way — it may be historically important, but its main function is being noticeable, not commemorating. For example, the Taj Mahal is both a monument (honouring Mumtaz Mahal) and a landmark (visible from miles away), but a local statue of a general is only a monument if it was built to honour him, not just to decorate a square.

memorial ↗statue ↗shrine ↗landmark ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • monument to someone
  • monument to something
  • a monument of historical importance
  • stands as a monument

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'monumentum' meaning 'a thing that reminds, a memorial', which comes from 'monere' meaning 'to remind, warn, or advise'. The word entered English through French in the 13th century, at first referring to a tomb or any structure that preserved memory. Over time it broadened: the sense of a historically important building developed in the 16th century, and the figurative meaning of 'an exceptional example of a quality' appeared in the 17th century.