monorail

[ mon-uh-reyl ]

noun

1. a single rail functioning as a track for wheeled vehicles, as railroad or other cars, balanced upon or suspended from it.
2. a railroad or other transportation system using such a rail.
3. a vehicle traveling on such a rail.

monorail

/ ˈmɒnəʊˌreɪl /

noun

1. a single-rail railway, often elevated and with suspended cars

Word History and Origins

Origin of monorail¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; mono- + rail ¹

Example Sentences

Most of a monorail could be built within the highway right of way.

From Washington Post

The study assumed monorail trains would arrive every six minutes during the morning and evening rush and every 12 minutes off-peak.

From Washington Post

His company owns property across the Washington region, he said, but not at any of the proposed monorail stations.

From Washington Post

Clustering new homes and jobs around monorail stations would help the area grow in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way, Eisinger said.

From Washington Post

Eisinger said he believes a monorail could be built and operated via a public-private partnership with teams of companies financing its construction and operating it in exchange for state payments to cover their debt, costs and a profit.

From Washington Post

Before the revolution, he makes a mere monorail for Brisbane.

From The Daily Beast

There is also another type of monorail of overhead construction, the wheels running on the rail from which the car hangs.

From Project Gutenberg

A distance away, a hundred feet above the ground level, the shadowy form of what seemed a monorail structure showed for a moment.

From Project Gutenberg

The two men turned quickly and disappeared through the door leading to the next monorail car.

From Project Gutenberg

Wearily, they drifted with the crowd and stepped on the slidestairs leading down to the monorail platform.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly the monorail roared out of the tunnel and into brilliant early-morning sun again.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• rail line
• railway
• subway