monolingual

American  

[mon-uh-ling-gwuhl, -ling-gyoo-uhl] / ˌmɒn əˈlɪŋ gwəl, -ˈlɪŋ gyu əl /

adjective

1. knowing or able to use only one language; monoglot.

2. spoken or written in only one language.

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noun

1. a monolingual person.

monolingual British  

/ ˌmɒnəʊˈlɪŋɡwəl /

adjective

1. knowing or expressed in only one language

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noun

1. a monolingual person

Usage

What does monolingual mean? Monolingual is used to describe someone who can speak or understand only one language.It can also mean written in, spoken in, or involving only one language.Monolingual is often used in contrast with terms like bilingual (able to speak two languages), trilingual (able to speak three languages), and multilingual (able to speak more than two and especially several languages).The ability to speak or understand only one language or the regular use of only one language is called monolingualism.Example: One of my great regrets is being monolingual and not learning another language when I was younger.

Other Word Forms

• monolingualism noun

Etymology

Origin of monolingual

First recorded in 1950–55; mono- + lingual

Example Sentences

In a season once again sure to be packed with political punchlines, SNL opened with something deeper: a pop star reminding America that its culture has never been monolingual.

From Salon

Replacing this with automated mimicry suggests a disturbing turn toward commodified and monolingual film culture, she says.

From BBC

In a country that has been largely mono-ethnic and monolingual since the end of World War II, Mr. Tusk stands out as a man of eclectic identities, interests and linguistic talents.

From New York Times

Working with monolingual and bilingual members of the Tsimane', the researchers asked people to perform two different tasks.

From Science Daily

Worse, most eating disorder specialists are monolingual English speakers, meaning family therapy sessions — the gold standard for anorexia nervosa — are eaten up by an interpreter volleying information back and forth to her parents in Spanish.

From Los Angeles Times