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
What would this mean, structurally, for those shorter edifices?
—Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The gremlins come out; the edifices crumble; the saucy doubts and fears triumph.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024
Whatever your specific interest, there’s seemingly an entire edifice devoted to it.
—Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025
Yet in a matter of months, the edifice of Iranian influence has come crashing down.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for edifice 
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.
Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The gremlins come out; the edifices crumble; the saucy doubts and fears triumph.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024
Whatever your specific interest, there’s seemingly an entire edifice devoted to it.
—Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025
Yet in a matter of months, the edifice of Iranian influence has come crashing down.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for edifice
Cite this Entry
“Edifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/edifice. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
edifice
noun
ed·i·fice
ˈed-ə-fəs 
: building sense 1
especially
: a large or impressive building (as a church)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share