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

Throughout the first several tracks, she confronts her inner monologue through candid lyrics, offering herself a reality check.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Carpenter has charisma to spare, but the monologue was too disjointed to go anywhere.

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Mr. Ansari provides one character with what’s meant to be a stirring monologue about how CEOs should simply give out big raises lest the workers of the world unite against them.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

Related Words

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