monogram

American  

[mon-uh-gram] / ˈmɒn əˌgræm /

noun

1. a design consisting of two or more alphabetic letters combined or interlaced, commonly one's initials, often printed on stationery, embroidered on clothing, etc.

2. a single emblematic or decorative letter; applied initial.

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verb (used with object)

monogrammed, monogramming

1. to decorate with a monogram.

monogram British  

/ ˈmɒnəˌɡræm /

noun

1. a design of one or more letters, esp initials, embroidered on clothing, printed on stationery, etc

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verb

1. (tr; usually passive) to decorate (clothing, stationery, etc) with a monogram

Other Word Forms

• monogrammatic
  adjective
• monogrammatical
  adjective
• monogrammic
  adjective
• unmonogrammed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of monogram

1600–10; < Late Latin monogramma, irregular < Late Greek monógrammon. See mono-, -gram ¹

Explanation

If you've ever had a set of stationery with your initials printed on it, you know what a monogram is — it's those three letters at the top. When you buy a towel, a blanket, or a sweater you can often pay a little extra for a monogram, to get the initials of your first, middle, and last names embroidered on them. Writing paper, wedding invitations, envelopes, and other paper goods are commonly printed with a monogram — or monogrammed. Fancy silverware can also be imprinted with a monogram, as can gold and silver jewelry. The root is Greek, monogrammon, which means "intertwined letters."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

monogram monogrammed monogramming

Dürer was only partly successful: It was decided that Raimondi could continue copying Dürer’s work, but he was prohibited from also copying the artist’s distinctive monogram.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026

Chinese media reported last week that a court in the eastern Jiangsu province ruled that the Shenzhen-based tea company had copied Louis Vuitton's iconic four-petal flower monogram trademark.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

"And I lived that as an early teen. I was desperate for the monogram Gucci washbag."

From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026

If you step into a Louis Vuitton store today, the LV monogram is omnipresent, the symbol of a powerful luxury house.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

Blood leeched through the silk handkerchief Frankie had wrapped my hand in, blotting out the monogram embroidered in Gothic script.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Another, from Ripon Cathedral, is the sole portrait without a monogrammed necklace.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Presiding over the festivities was Frank Seddio, the club’s 79-year-old chairman, who was wearing suspenders and a monogrammed dress shirt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2025

I have an insatiable addiction to putting my initials on everything, so I like to get my cuffs monogrammed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2024

Created by the Herbert Johnson Hat Company in London, the inside lining features gold monogrammed initials "IJ".

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2024

His blue silk pajamas had “WD” monogrammed on the pocket Seriously, who has monogrammed pajamas?

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

For a personal touch, monogramming for up to three letters is also an option.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 1, 2022

“If a single additional customer gets an imperfect luggage tag I am personally overtaking oversight of the monogramming program,” Korey wrote on Slack, her exasperation boiling over.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 18, 2019

The company has eight retail locations in cities across the US, a store in London, and a new monogramming outpost in Brooklyn.

From The Verge ● Dec. 17, 2019

Add gold embossed monogramming for an extra special touch.

From Fox News ● Nov. 28, 2018

Local photographer Susan Saandholland helped them convert the image in Photoshop so it could be printed on fabric, and Cotton Connection, on Main Street, did some monogramming work on the finished product.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 2, 2017