mono
noun
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mono
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mono-
mono-a combining form meaning “alone,” “single,” “one” (monogamy ); specialized in some scientific terms to denote a monomolecular thickness (monolayer ) and adapted in chemistry to apply to compounds containing one atom of a particular element (monohydrate ).
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mono–
mono–A prefix that means “one, only, single,” as in monochromatic, having only one color. It is often found in chemical names where it means “containing just one” of the specified atom or group, as in carbon monoxide, which is carbon attached to a single oxygen atom.
mono
1 American
[mon-oh]
/ ˈmɒn oʊ /
noun
Informal.
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monos
plural
mono
2
American
[mon-oh]
/ ˈmɒn oʊ /
adjective
mono-
3
American
especially before a vowel,
mon-
mono
1
British
/ ˈmɒnəʊ /
adjective
noun
mono-
2
British
combining form
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one; single
monochrome
monorail
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indicating that a chemical compound contains a single specified atom or group
monoxide
mono–
Scientific
Usage
What does mono- mean? Mono- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “alone, singular, one.” It is used in a great many technical and scientific terms, including in chemistry, where it refers to compounds containing one atom of a particular element. Mono- comes from the Greek mónos, meaning “alone."What are variants of mono-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, mono- becomes mon-, as in monacid.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of mono1
By shortening
Origin of mono2
By shortening
Origin of mono-3
From Greek, combining form of mónos “alone”
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.
See Examples For:
Early in his career, most albums were sold in two versions, mono and a more-expensive stereo format—a practice he described as expensive and wasteful in his autobiography.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
I eventually kissed a boy and did not get mono.
From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2026
Get ready to be surprised by a Puerto Rican asalto navideño or enjoy a glass of cola de mono with your Chilean friends.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2023
It so happened the Cal baseball writer had just come down with mono.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 10, 2023
The worst part was that they had believed she’d had mono.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
In fact, these oils contain a low amount - 5-10% - of unhealthy saturated fats and are high in healthier mono- and polyunsaturated fats.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2025
Emulsifiers, including sodium stearoyl lactylate and mono- and diglycerides.
From Seattle Times ● May 2, 2024
But typically bread only uses mono- or diglyceride fatty acids as emulsifiers, which have not been linked to risk of disease.
From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2023
When only one atom of the first element is present, the prefix mono- is usually deleted from that part.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
They ate lunch in the dining room with real mono- grammed silver off silver-rimmed china set on lace mats.
From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson
Whether his actual first words were, as his mother likes to remember, monos mou, "all by myself," they have become the memory that gives her son his identity.
From Time Magazine Archive
The word monologue comes from the combination of two Greek words, monos, alone, and legein, to speak.
From Writing for Vaudeville by Brett Page
"How did you know the beasts were called monos?"
From Westward Ho!, or, the voyages and adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, of Burrough, in the county of Devon, in the reign of her most glorious majesty Queen Elizabeth by Charles Kingsley
The word monarch is from two Greek words, monos sole or only, and arkos, a chief; and is a general name for a single ruler, whether he is called king, emperor, or prince.
From The Government Class Book Designed for the Instruction of Youth in the Principles of Constitutional Government and the Rights and Duties of Citizens. by Andrew W. Young
The reason why the machine is called a monotype is that the letters are made one at a time, and monos is the Greek word for one.
From Makers of Many Things by Eva March Tappan
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.
