monogram
Americannoun
-
a design consisting of two or more alphabetic letters combined or interlaced, commonly one's initials, often printed on stationery, embroidered on clothing, etc.
-
a single emblematic or decorative letter; applied initial.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing monogram
Write On!: Graph and Gram
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The Last Olympian
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The Great Gilly Hopkins
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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:
The more intricate “LV” monogram pattern, with quatrefoil and flowers, appeared in 1896 as Georges’s tribute to his late father.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026
"And I lived that as an early teen. I was desperate for the monogram Gucci washbag."
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
After 130 years, the Louis Vuitton monogram still carries weight, hearkening back to an era of remarkable craftsmanship.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026
Then, he’ll draw the monogram, crest or other design on the painted silver.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2025
I picked October, as it is a golden month with better-than-average weather, and my initials would be O.O. for October Owens, which would make an interesting monogram.
From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
This coffee-table book takes Louis Vuitton superfans on a non-chronological trip through the archives, collaborations, window displays, movie moments and fashion designers in its monogrammed universe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 28, 2025
Dressed in denim and a monogrammed windbreaker, cradling a cup of coffee, he was casual and unassuming, perfectly attired for fact-finding on a late fall morning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 20, 2024
Created by the Herbert Johnson Hat Company in London, the inside lining features gold monogrammed initials "IJ".
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2024
There were scripts, telegrams, contracts, prop guns, movie posters, postcards from the Navy to his beloved Cleo, and monogrammed lighters and matchbooks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2024
After a while I noticed other niceties of his dress, the monogrammed cufflinks, the Italian loafers.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
“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
In previous years, full-time monogramming artists were included in company-wide events, like Away’s annual holiday party.
From The Verge ● Dec. 17, 2019
Add gold embossed monogramming for an extra special touch.
From Fox News ● Nov. 28, 2018
Pottery Barn Kids’ collection includes bags with houndstooth, linen and herringbone patterns, leather trim and a monogramming option.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 31, 2018
The fourth of its kind in North America, Coach’s Craftsmanship Bar is part mini museum, showcasing bags from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, and part personalized customer service with cleaning, customization, monogramming and product repair.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2016
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.
