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Definition of monosyllable

monosyllable

/ˈmɑː.nəˌsɪl.ə.bəl/
mon · o · syl · la · ble
Adverb:monosyllabically
•
Plural:monosyllables
•
Adjective:monosyllabic
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monosyllable Lexical Profile

monosyllable Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A word consisting of only one syllable, often used in the plural to describe brief, curt, or uncommunicative speech.

Example

"The exhausted teenager answered all of his mother's questions in reluctant monosyllables."

Antonyms
View all antonyms for monosyllable

• Nearby Words

monorail
monospaced
monosyllabic
monosyllable
monotask
monotasking
monotheism

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 15th century from Middle French monosyllabe, from Late Latin monosyllabus, and ultimately from Ancient Greek monosyllabos, combining monos ('single, alone') and syllabe ('syllable').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Monosyllable. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/monosyllable
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