monosyllabic

American  

[mon-uh-si-lab-ik] / ˌmɒn ə sɪˈlæb ɪk /

adjective

1. having only one syllable, as the word no.

2. having a vocabulary composed primarily of monosyllables or short, simple words.

3. very brief; terse or blunt.

   a monosyllabic reply.

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monosyllabic British  

/ ˌmɒnəsɪˈlæbɪk /

adjective

1. (of a word) containing only one syllable

2. characterized by monosyllables; curt

   a monosyllabic answer

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Other Word Forms

• monosyllabically adverb
• monosyllabicity noun

Etymology

Origin of monosyllabic

1815–25; < Medieval Latin monosyllabicus, equivalent to Late Latin monosyllab ( on ) monosyllable (< Greek monosýllabon, noun use of neuter of monosýllabos monosyllabic) + -icus -ic

Explanation

Any word or sound made up of just one syllable can be described with the adjective monosyllabic. Monosyllabic comes from the Greek prefix monos, "single," and syllabe, "syllable." You can also describe a person who tends to talk this way, in grunts or short words, as monosyllabic, like your cranky old grandpa or a newly verbal toddler.

Example Sentences

"I think I got very solitary, very monosyllabic during that time. I won't sugar coat it - I was in a very, very bad place at that time."

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2024

Ice Spice has a way with a hilarious, monosyllabic insult hurled like a blunt instrument.

From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2024

To quote “Now & Then” column founder Paul Dorpat, “In the moment it might take an exhausted barrister to mouth a monosyllabic indecency, the old embarrassment was leveled.”

From Seattle Times • May 11, 2023

Having made peace with my own widely used, boringly monosyllabic surname years ago, I read that story with no small amusement.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2023

I couldn’t help them out, was pretty sure they couldn’t do squat for me, so I avoided them as much as possible, fell into monosyllabic communication mode whenever we did come face to face.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx