monolithic

adjective

mono·​lith·​ic ˌmä-nə-ˈli-thik 

1

a

: of, relating to, or resembling a monolith : huge, massive

a large monolithic building

an influential monolithic organization

b(1)

: formed from a single crystal

a monolithic silicon chip

(2)

: produced in or on a monolithic chip (see chip entry 1 sense 6b)

a monolithic circuit

2

a

: cast as a single piece

a monolithic concrete wall

b

: formed or composed of material without joints or seams

a monolithic floor covering

c

: consisting of or constituting a single unit

3

a

: constituting a massive undifferentiated and often rigid whole

a monolithic society

b

: exhibiting or characterized by often rigidly fixed uniformity

monolithic party unity

monolithically

ˌmä-nə-ˈli-thi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of monolithic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When complete, a monolithic glittering golden tower containing 1,542 rooms will soar more than 300 meters and be surrounded by lush grounds, swimming lagoons and a marina. —Caroline Reid, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Big concrete monolithic buildings, comparatively rare in London, were the ones that really caught his eye, beginning with the Art Moderne bathhouse at Jacob Riis Park. —Owen Davies, Curbed, 4 Nov. 2024

But Latinos come from many different cultural backgrounds, so a monolithic message does not speak to all Latinos, if any. —Aisha Wallace-Palomares, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024

This pushback and occasional calling to task not only makes for compelling reading, but serves as an apt rejoinder to those who would collapse their differences into some kind of monolithic Octoberite orthodoxy. —Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see monolith

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1a