behemoth

UK: /bɪˈhiːmɒθ/ US: /bɪˈhiməθ/ ,(bi hē′məth, bē′ə-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

be•he•moth /bɪˈhiməθ/   n. [countable]

1. any creature or thing of monstrous size or power:
   The government had become a behemoth.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

be•he•moth  (bi hē′məth, bē′ə-), n. 

1. Bible an animal, perhaps the hippopotamus, mentioned in Job 40:15–24.
2. any creature or thing of monstrous size or power:
   The army's new tank is a behemoth. The cartel is a behemoth small business owners fear.

• Hebrew bəhēmōth, an augmentative plural of bəhēmāh beast; replacing Middle English bemoth
• 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

behemoth / bɪˈhiːmɒθ/ noun

1. a gigantic beast, probably a hippopotamus, described in Job 40:15
2. a huge or monstrous person or thing

Etymology: 14th Century: from Hebrew běhēmōth, plural of běhēmāh beast