edifice

noun

ed·​i·​fice ˈe-də-fəs How to pronounce edifice (audio)
1
: building
especially : a large or massive structure
2
: a large abstract structure
holds together the social edificeR. H. Tawney

Examples of edifice in a Sentence

a magnificent edifice with a domed ceiling the U.S. Capitol is one of our nation's most impressive edifices
Recent Examples on the Web But Stapleton’s ability to make a giant concrete edifice seem like an intimate hootenanny with just an acoustic guitar and his deeply expressive voice was a rare accomplishment. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024 And the Edition hotel moved into a bank partly attributed to Marcello Piacentini, the architect responsible for the EUR district, the neighborhood of massive edifices constructed under Mussolini. Laura May Todd, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024 Members, missionaries and former missionaries exult as the edifice prepares to open. Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Aug. 2023 The edifice built on this foundation, however, is entirely erroneous. Jack Guttentag, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 In the end, the edifice of peace that so many had labored so hard to construct was consumed in a paroxysm of violence as the Palestinians launched another, more intense uprising and the Israelis expanded their occupation of the West Bank. Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 The edifice of his power remains intact, while those who threaten it face even harsher consequences than in an earlier phase of his rule. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2024 In the evenings, crowds spill onto the broad pavement of Plaza Washington from the garage-like edifice of Cicatriz, an all-day cafe run by a sister-brother team of American expats, Scarlett and Jake Lindeman. Michael Snyder, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023 Rural blacks live in huge houses, attend enormous church edifices where excessively choreographed gospel celebrations rival the cartoon bacchanalia of The Blues Brothers. Armond White, National Review, 3 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'edifice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin aedificium, from aedificare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of edifice was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near edifice

Cite this Entry

“Edifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/edifice. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

edifice

noun
ed·​i·​fice ˈed-ə-fəs How to pronounce edifice (audio)
: building sense 1
especially : a large or impressive building (as a church)

More from Merriam-Webster on edifice

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