1
: building
especially
: a large or massive structure
2
: a large abstract structure
holds together the social edifice—
R. H. Tawney
R. 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
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Freedom Center was built in 1981, a brawny edifice staking turf on 30 acres of industrial land in River West.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2024
As these numbers rise, along with rates of Type 2 diabetes, the edifice that Peters—and Atwater, in his own way—constructed around the calorie has begun to crumble.
—Michelle Stacey, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024
The cityscape included impressive marble edifices built by the British and palatial homes constructed by the rich merchants and zamindars (landowners).
—Diya Kohli, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2024
The edifice of the volcano has been heavily eroded by glaciers, but the most recent eruptions were likely since the glaciers receded (<12,000 years ago).
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2024
Mountain goats are high-elevation daredevils, learning to balance upon the steepest of rocky edifices soon after they are born.
—Lesley Evans Ogden, New York Times, 1 May 2024
The edifice of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), a reasonable-sounding concept that serves as a dog whistle for critical race theory and is premised on the claim that our country is systemically racist, is cracking.
—Richard T. Bosshardt, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
Currently some 12,000 items are on display in the stately neoclassical edifice, but behind the scenes 150,000 more are arranged by type—cemetery reliefs, urns, statues—with slices of foam to protect them if an earthquake hits.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
An April 2021 episode highlighted another student singing in front of the crumbling edifice of what once was the National Opera House in Pittsburgh and the home of Mary Cardwell Dawson, founder of the groundbreaking National Negro Opera Company.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 31 Jan. 2024
Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2024
As these numbers rise, along with rates of Type 2 diabetes, the edifice that Peters—and Atwater, in his own way—constructed around the calorie has begun to crumble.
—Michelle Stacey, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024
The cityscape included impressive marble edifices built by the British and palatial homes constructed by the rich merchants and zamindars (landowners).
—Diya Kohli, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2024
The edifice of the volcano has been heavily eroded by glaciers, but the most recent eruptions were likely since the glaciers receded (<12,000 years ago).
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2024
Mountain goats are high-elevation daredevils, learning to balance upon the steepest of rocky edifices soon after they are born.
—Lesley Evans Ogden, New York Times, 1 May 2024
The edifice of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), a reasonable-sounding concept that serves as a dog whistle for critical race theory and is premised on the claim that our country is systemically racist, is cracking.
—Richard T. Bosshardt, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
Currently some 12,000 items are on display in the stately neoclassical edifice, but behind the scenes 150,000 more are arranged by type—cemetery reliefs, urns, statues—with slices of foam to protect them if an earthquake hits.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
An April 2021 episode highlighted another student singing in front of the crumbling edifice of what once was the National Opera House in Pittsburgh and the home of Mary Cardwell Dawson, founder of the groundbreaking National Negro Opera Company.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 31 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.
Dictionary Entries Near edifice
Cite this Entry
“Edifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/edifice. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
edifice
noun
ed·i·fice
ˈed-ə-fəs 
: building sense 1
especially
: a large or impressive building (as a church)
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