mondo
1 Americannoun
adverb
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mondo1
First recorded in 1925–30; from Japanese mondō, earlier mondau “rapid question and answer, catechesis between a rōshi (master) and student,” from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese wèn “inquire” + dá “reply”
Origin of mondo2
First recorded in 1965–70; from Italian mondo “world,” extracted from the film Mondo Cane ( “A Dog's World” ) (1962) and reinterpreted as an adverb in Italian or pseudo-Italian phrases such as mondo bizarro “very bizarre,” literally, “bizarre world”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Jolie, who sold her shares to Stoli’s wine division, Tenute del Mondo, said they had no such agreement in place.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2025
“One memory is just jumping in the back yard after school and Mondo would coach me,” says Johanna.
From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025
Birmingham has a new Mondo track surface that should produce faster times.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2025
Global stars such as gymnast Simone Biles, tennis player Novak Djokovic and pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis lived up to their billing.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2024
“I also want the Mondo Upgrade Package,” I said.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
