stela

noun

ste·​la ˈstē-lə How to pronounce stela (audio)
variants or stele
ˈstē-lē How to pronounce stela (audio)
plural stelae ˈstē-(ˌ)lē How to pronounce stela (audio) or steles
: a usually carved or inscribed stone slab or pillar used for commemorative purposes

Examples of stela 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.
The Lanzón stela has sat among tunnels under ancient ruins in the Peruvian Andes for more than two millennia. — Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2021 The stela shows an individual wearing a headdress and necklace, items usually associated with women, while wielding a pair of swords. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2023 Of the three main monuments—each of which consists of a temple, a tomb, and a stela—the loveliest is the one dedicated to Tu Duc (ruled 1847–83). — Hanya Yanagihara, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2022 Just off the entry hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in the displays of ancient Greek sculpture, is a marble memorial marker, or stela, about three feet high. — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for stela

Word History

Etymology

Latin & Greek; Latin stela, from Greek stēlē; akin to Old High German stollo pillar, Greek stellein to set up

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stela was in 1776

Browse Nearby Words

Steitz
stela
stelar
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stela.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stela. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stela

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stela

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