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

/ ˈmɒnəˌlɒɡɪst; məˈnɒləɡɪst; mɒˈnɒlədʒɪ; 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

Usage

See soliloquy

Derived Forms

• monology, noun
• monologic, adjective
• monologist, noun

Other Words From

• mon·o·log·ic [mon-, uh, -, loj, -ik], mono·logi·cal adjective
• mon·o·log·ist [mon, -, uh, -law-gist, -log-ist, m, uh, -, nol, -, uh, -jist], mon·o·logu·ist [mon, -, uh, -law-gist, -log-ist], 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

As a result, everyone gets frustrated, nothing feels equitable or productive, and the loudest voice ends up dominating, reducing the dialogue to their own monologue.

From Fortune

The inhabitants of a planet named Koppai have almost run out of food, the opening monologue tells us, due to “a booming population, a booming appetite and a basic lack of planning.”

From Washington Post

Instead, Bufka recommends working on adjusting your inner monologue to something more patient and accepting.

From Popular-Science

Meditating or journaling, for example, can help you actively listen to that inner monologue and adjust the language you use to process what’s going on around you.

From Popular-Science

He alternates between bursts of inspiration and intense dissections of medical research or sci-fi movie plots in hard-to-follow monologues that many people find captivating.

From Fortune

We shake hands and he immediately begins a monologue about prison breaks and South America.

From The Daily Beast

Gil took weeks to build a monologue, skillfully turning the words on their head.

From The Daily Beast

In one particularly affecting monologue, AJ discusses his frustration and troubles upon returning to the US.

From The Daily Beast

I never watch television," he says, then corrects himself: "Well, sometimes Carson's monologue.

From The Daily Beast

Rivers continued on her political, authoritarian monologue by describing what kind of tyrant she would be.

From The Daily Beast

Marie answered him whenever his monologue required answer, but she was unresponsive, uninterested—bored.

From Project Gutenberg

The first result was a shower of invitations to tea, occasions when Laura was easily led into monologue.

From Project Gutenberg

And this time, it was Wade who began talking in a monologue.

From Project Gutenberg

In this story we find the furrier engaged in a monologue, in which he tells of his delight in making the Rabbi's cap.

From Project Gutenberg

For the first time Bert displayed some interest in the conversation, or monologue, as one might more properly call it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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