colossus

American  

[kuh-los-uhs] / kəˈlɒs əs /

noun

plural

colossi, colossuses

1. (initial capital letter) the legendary bronze statue of Helios at Rhodes.

2. any statue of gigantic size.

3. anything colossal, gigantic, or very powerful.

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colossus British  

/ kəˈlɒsəs /

noun

1. something very large, esp a statue

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Etymology

Origin of colossus

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek kolossós statue, image, presumably < a pre-Hellenic Mediterranean language

Explanation

The original colossus was an enormous statue that was supposed to have guarded the ancient Greek island and city of Rhodes. Now, though, we use the noun colossus for someone of huge importance, reputation, or influence. In the world of American music, Louis Armstrong is a colossus. He invented or perfected many of the elements of what we now call jazz — there's probably no figure of greater importance in that field. Even the second most important athlete in the world seems small in comparison to the colossus that is Muhammad Ali. He is, quite simply, the greatest. In the ancient world, Rome was an imperial colossus. Few nations could rival its strength, size, or colossal growth.

Example Sentences

Yet while the structure is designed to be undetectable from the inside, it’s a full-blown metallic colossus on the outside — visible from the surrounding L.A. freeways.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

He's been a total colossus in this fixture in the past and he was again on Saturday.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

"The world has lost a giant. A colossus of African music," a statement shared on his official page said.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

Now, he will oversee all of Disney and its 230,000 workforce as the entertainment colossus tries to soar in the streaming age amid the erosion of the company’s once mighty legacy cable TV business.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

Irwin was a colossus, in form and personality.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand