monochromatic

[mon-uh-kroh-mat-ik, -oh-kruh-]

adjective

1. of or having one color.

2. of, relating to, or having tones of one color in addition to the ground hue.

   monochromatic pottery.

3. Optics.,  pertaining to light of one color or to radiation of a single wavelength or narrow range of wavelengths.

4. Ophthalmology.,  of or relating to monochromatism.

monochromatic

/ ˌmɒnəʊˈkrəʊɪk, ˌmɒnəʊkrəʊˈmætɪk /

adjective

1. Also: homochromatic. (of light or other electromagnetic radiation) having only one wavelength

2. physics (of moving particles) having only one kinetic energy

3. of or relating to monochromatism

noun

1. a person who is totally colour-blind

monochromatic

1. Consisting of a single wavelength of light or other radiation. Lasers, for example, usually produce monochromatic light.

2. Having or appearing to have only one color.

3. Compare polychromatic

Other Word Forms

• monochromatically adverb
• monochromaticity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of monochromatic¹

First recorded in 1815–25; mono- + chromatic

Example Sentences

Mitchell’s portraits feature individuals shaded with ink set against monochromatic acyrlic background.

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In Pacific Palisades, the flames turned a vibrant suburban paradise into a monochromatic hell.

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Much of the Palisades, once vibrant and green, is now monochromatic, like “The Wizard of Oz” in reverse.

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They had day jobs and often debated art theory at Romero’s kitchen table in Angelino Heights, where they wrote their ideas and sketched pictures — one the same featured in Beto’s monochromatic drawing.

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“With the turquoise hair, I thought a monochromatic top would work brilliantly,” Snell says.

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Related Words

• monochrome