monologue

or mon·o·log

[ mon-uh-lawg, -log ]

/ ˈmɒn əˌlɔg, -ˌlɒg /

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See synonyms for: monologue / monologist on Thesaurus.com

noun

a form of dramatic entertainment, comedic solo, or the like by a single speaker: a comedian's monologue.

a prolonged talk or discourse by a single speaker, especially one dominating or monopolizing a conversation.

any composition, as a poem, in which a single person speaks alone.

a part of a drama in which a single actor speaks alone; soliloquy.

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Origin of monologue

1615–25; <French, on the model of dialoguedialogue; compare Greek monólogos speaking alone

OTHER WORDS FROM monologue

mon·o·log·ic

[mon-uh-loj-ik], /ˌmɒn əˈlɒdʒ ɪk/, mon·o·log·i·cal, adjectivemon·o·log·ist

[mon-uh-law-gist, -log-ist, muh-nol-uh-jist], /ˈmɒn əˌlɔ gɪst, -ˌlɒg ɪst, məˈnɒl ə dʒɪst/, mon·o·logu·ist

[mon-uh-law-gist, -log-ist], /ˈmɒn əˌlɔ gɪst, -ˌlɒg ɪst/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use monologue in a sentence

Into his 90s, he was still crisscrossing the globe, weaving Twain’s stories and quips into a peppery monologue about mankind’s pretensions and vices.
Actor Hal Holbrook, indelible portrayer of Mark Twain, dies at 95|Adam Bernstein|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
Most of the late-night TV hosts had a critical caveat when they delivered their monologues Wednesday night.
Late-night TV hosts express shock at close election: ‘I feel like I overestimated the American people’|Emily Yahr|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
The monologist best known for concocting parts of his Apple exposé named his new play ‘Yes All Women.’
The Redemption of Fabulist Mike Daisey|Melissa Leon|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Daisey is a monologist—he creates and performs theatrical monologues.
The Conning of ‘This American Life’ Leads to an Embarrassing Retraction|Philip Bump|March 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST

No one answered and Molly began to wonder how long this strange girl would endure the part of a monologist at college.
Molly Brown's Freshman Days|Nell Speed
The audience grasped it and the monologist established a reputation for originality.
Watch Yourself Go By|Al. G. Field
Looked at as a monologist he might pass if sufficiently interpolated with ah-le-ee!
I, Mary MacLane|Mary MacLane
Lady Arthur is silenced, for she has not the slightest idea what a monologist is.
A House-Party|Ouida
As "Spider" lit, the monologist shouted: "There goes another old friend of Alf's."
Watch Yourself Go By|Al. G. Field

British Dictionary definitions for monologue

monologue

/ (ˈmɒnəˌlɒɡ) /

noun

a long speech made by one actor in a play, film, etc, esp when alone

a dramatic piece for a single performer

any long speech by one person, esp when interfering with conversation

Derived forms of monologue

monologic (ˌmɒnəˈlɒdʒɪk) or monological, adjectivemonologist (ˈmɒnəˌlɒɡɪst, məˈnɒləɡɪst), nounmonology (mɒˈnɒlədʒɪ), noun

Word Origin for monologue

C17: via French from Greek monologos speaking alone

undefined monologue

See soliloquy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

monologue

or mon·o·log

Origin of monologue

OTHER WORDS FROM monologue

Words related to monologue

How to use monologue in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for monologue

Derived forms of monologue

Word Origin for monologue

undefined monologue