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

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

Kimmel returned Sept. 23 with an emotional monologue that championed the 1st Amendment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And Lucky’s monologue—veering inanely through realms including religion, academics and sports—is delivered by Mr. Thornton not, as it usually is, as a galloping pile of gabble, but with a musing seriousness.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The host finished out his monologue in Spanish, saying that the contributions of Latinos in the United States couldn’t be erased.

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On the season opener of “Saturday Night Live,” for instance, guest host Bad Bunny used his monologue to mock Noem’s threat that ICE will be all over the Super Bowl.

Read more on Salon

Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, hosting the season 51 premiere of Saturday Night Live this weekend, used his monologue to do what he does best — turn criticism into culture.

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Related Words

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