monologue

Or mon·o·log

[mon-uh-lawg, -log]

noun

1. a form of dramatic entertainment, comedic solo, or the like by a single speaker.

   a comedian's monologue.

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

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

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

monologue

/ məˈnɒləɡɪst, mɒˈnɒlədʒɪ, ˈmɒnəˌlɒɡɪst, ˌmɒnəˈlɒdʒɪk, ˈmɒnəˌlɒɡ /

noun

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

2. a dramatic piece for a single performer

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

Other Word Forms

• monologic adjective
• monological adjective
• monologist noun
• monologuist noun
• monology noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of monologue¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of monologue¹

C17: via French from Greek monologos speaking alone

Example Sentences

But they also say he can be difficult—stubborn, prone to drone on in half-hour monologues, and at times naive about geopolitics.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Gustav has translated the script into English to accommodate his star, but even a stunning monologue that Rachel performs during one rehearsal doesn’t feel quite right.

Read more on Salon

It’s a moment of breathtaking poise and mournful feeling, and it prepares us for what’s to come, when Ms. Huston delivers a monologue about a long-lost love with quiet, devastating force.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In Powell’s monologue, the actor admits he’s been so publicized that even he’s tired of seeing his own face.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Yet to many he was best experienced onstage, where he’d thread his songs into a kind of running monologue about his rough-and-tumble life.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• discourse 
• harangue 
• lecture 
• sermon 
• soliloquy 
• speech