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

Monosyllabic words are spat out like gnawed-off fingernails.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 11, 2013

Monosyllabic vocal bursts, evolving into something more, mark the attack of a god on high by an evil subterranean deity.

From Seattle Times • May 8, 2010

Fading traces Monosyllabic answers are common to teenagers.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2010

Cinnamon, citrus and rum come together in the Monosyllabic Parrot.

From Washington Post

If brevity were the body, as well as the soul of wit, Fink must have been about the wittiest man that ever lived, the Monosyllabic Traveller not excepted.

From The Gerrard Street Mystery and Other Weird Tales by Dent, John Charles