monument
UK: ˈmɒnjʊmənt | US: ˈmɑːnjʊmənt
n. a structure, building, or statue erected to commemorate a person or event
n. a written or artistic work of enduring significance
n. (figurative) an enduring example or symbol of something
The word "monument" traces back to Latin monumentum, derived from monere (to warn, remind). Originally, it referred to objects or structures meant to preserve memory—literally "something that reminds." Over time, the meaning narrowed to physical commemorative structures (e.g., statues, tombs) and later expanded metaphorically to denote anything of lasting significance. The root monu- also appears in "admonish" (to warn) and "premonition" (a forewarning).
The ancient monument stood tall against the sky, a silent witness to history.
Her groundbreaking research became a monument in the field of biology.
The government pledged to restore the war monument for the centenary.
Shakespeare’s plays are monuments of English literature.
The crumbling ruins served as a monument to a forgotten civilization.