monologue

American  

[mon-uh-lawg, -log] / ˈmɒn əˌlɔg, -ˌlɒg /

Or monolog

noun

monologues plural

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.

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monologue British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• monologues
  plural

Etymology

Origin of monologue

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

Explanation

A monologue is a speech delivered by one person, or a long one-sided conversation that makes you want to pull your hair out from boredom. The Greek root word monologos translates to “speaking alone,” and that’s a monologue: one person doing all the talking. In theatre, sometimes a character has a monologue that they perform. You might have an internal monologue where you talk to yourself to better understand some dilemma. Some people talk forever in a constant monologue, never letting you speak. If two people talk back and forth, it’s a dialogue, which is different and probably more fun for everyone.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

monologue monologues

“Our founding fathers drafted a charter to guarantee the rule of law and the rights of man,” says Obama in an introductory monologue.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

Rogen came up with some of the biggest laugh lines and Norton wrote the deeply earnest monologue he delivers late in the film.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

Quickly editing my interior monologue, as to not admit psychosis: “That’s my dog.”

From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026

I remember I had a long monologue audition, and in there I talk about, “No way, José.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

Part of the way through the monologue, Brandon Hardy explains that everybody at the school must play a sport.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

On one weekend in Tokyo, hundreds of visitors flocked to a zine fair showcasing a wide range of handmade magazines in different sizes and formats -- some incorporating abstract designs, photography or personal monologues.

From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026

It’s no surprise that Donald Trump dominated Colbert’s monologues by a wide margin, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of the show’s transcripts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

It has been a memorable run of shows, but there were countless interviews and monologues over the years that made Colbert and “The Late Show” a must-watch.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026

Olivia and Jamieson both feel the guest-host monologues didn't work for the British version of the show.

From BBC ● May 17, 2026

Olanna tuned the radio; it was too early for the war broadcasts, for the fire-filled monologues on Biafra’s greatness that she desperately needed to hear.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

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