monoculture

American  

[mon-uh-kuhl-cher] / ˈmɒn əˌkʌl tʃər /

noun

1. Agriculture.

   1. Also called monocropping.  the use of land for growing only one type of crop.

      They are making the same mistake as the foresters who seek to replace diverse forests with monocultures.

   2. Also called monocrop.  a crop grown in this manner.

      The cultivation of crops, especially monocultures like soy, palm oil, and cocoa, is another significant factor in habitat loss.

2. 1. a way of life, worldview, set of popular media touchstones, etc., that is considered emblematic of a dominant culture.

      The show played an important role in the media monoculture of the 1950s.

   2. a single culture considered with respect to its homogeneity.

      The small island's monoculture changed drastically when it became an international tourist destination.

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monoculture British  

/ ˈmɒnəʊˌkʌltʃə /

noun

1. the continuous growing of one type of crop

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Other Word Forms

• monocultural adjective

Etymology

Origin of monoculture

First recorded in 1910–15; mono- + culture

Explanation

When a farmer grows just one crop — like wheat, or corn — it's called monoculture. On big, industrial farms, monoculture tends to be the current mode of choice (for better or for worse!). Monoculture makes it easier for farms to produce huge amounts of a crop, and the simplicity of planting and harvesting, as well as pest control, makes things easier for workers and farmers. However, monoculture has become controversial because it hurts the quality of the soil over time, as well as allowing the fast and devastating spread of pests or disease. Polyculture, when many different crops are planted together, is healthier for the environment. Mono means "one" in Greek, while poly means "many."

Example Sentences

The growth of the American monoculture was, like so much of our nation’s history, a product of geopolitics, economics and technology.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

"The lignite monoculture has been both a blessing and a curse for the region," one said emphatically.

From Barron's • Dec. 27, 2025

“Getting” Gen Z has also been complicated by the death of monoculture, the speed at which youth trends come and go, and the multiplying media channels where brands are now expected to participate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 7, 2025

Those of us of who love Mexican American cuisine, in all its manifestations, can take heart in knowing it is still one of the most “American” aspects to whatever is left of the U.S. monoculture.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2025

One is that agriculture in much of the Old World came to involve broadcast seeding and monoculture fields, and eventually plowing.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond