1
: building
especially
: a large or massive structure
2
: a large abstract structure
… holds together the social edifice …—
R. H. Tawney
R. H. TawneyExamples 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
Harkening back to the out-of-this-world aesthetics that won them broad acclaim for Poor Things, the commercial opens on a crumbling modernist edifice on a rocky outcrop in a stormy ocean.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Katharine's first professional home was the third floor of Building 5, a seven-story brick edifice lined with wide windows smack-dab in the middle of the GE factory.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
The truth risks bringing down the whole edifice, which is why the system writhes to hide who takes decisions large and small.
—Azadeh Moaveni, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
While cell towers are normally installed in inconspicuous locations to seamlessly integrate into urban landscapes, Echard’s visitors are encouraged to seek out and view this edifice at close range.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
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Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Katharine's first professional home was the third floor of Building 5, a seven-story brick edifice lined with wide windows smack-dab in the middle of the GE factory.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
The truth risks bringing down the whole edifice, which is why the system writhes to hide who takes decisions large and small.
—Azadeh Moaveni, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
While cell towers are normally installed in inconspicuous locations to seamlessly integrate into urban landscapes, Echard’s visitors are encouraged to seek out and view this edifice at close range.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for edifice
Cite this Entry
“Edifice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/edifice. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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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