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Added 9 October 2026

milestone

/ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/ noun

In Latin: mīlliārium Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about milestone at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A stone milepost (or by extension in other materials), one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road at regular intervals, typically at the side of the road or in a median.
An important event in a person's life or career, in the history of a nation, in the life of some project, etc.

verb

To place milestones along (a road, etc.).
To plan out a project as a series of major steps.

Origin

From mile + stone. Compare Dutch mijlsteen (“milestone”), German Low German Mielensteen (“milestone”), German Meilenstein (“milestone”), Swedish milsten (“milestone”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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