obelisk

noun

obe·​lisk ˈä-bə-ˌlisk How to pronounce obelisk (audio)
also ˈō-
Synonyms of obelisknext
1
: an upright 4-sided usually monolithic pillar that gradually tapers as it rises and terminates in a pyramid
2
a
: obelus
b
: dagger sense 2b

Illustration of obelisk

Illustration of obelisk
  • obelisk 1

Examples of obelisk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Its missing right-hand obelisk is in the Place de la Concorde, Paris. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Near the house was a cemetery with a marker for Maxwell, a tall obelisk with worn stories in its sides. — James Whorton Jr, Longreads, 13 Oct. 2026 The jail, a beige 12-story obelisk, overlooks all of downtown Las Vegas – a Bosch-in-the-sunbelt panorama. — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026 Across town, a stone obelisk—similar to Washington’s but, again, taller—was constructed with 25,550 blocks of white granite, one for each day of Kim’s seven decades of life. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obelisk

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin obeliscus "four-sided pillar," borrowed from Greek obelískos "skewer, four-sided pillar," diminutive of obelós "spit, four-sided pillar" — more at obelus

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of obelisk was in 1561

Rhymes for obelisk

See All Rhymes for obelisk

Browse Nearby Words

obeliscoid
obelisk
obelism
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Cite this Entry

“Obelisk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obelisk. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

obelisk

noun
obe·​lisk ˈäb-ə-ˌlisk How to pronounce obelisk (audio)
: a four-sided pillar that becomes narrower toward the top and ends in a pyramid

More from Merriam-Webster on obelisk

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