monomial

American  

[moh-noh-mee-uhl, muh-] / moʊˈnoʊ mi əl, mə- /

adjective

1. Algebra.

   1. consisting of one term only.

   2. (of a matrix) having exactly one non-zero term in each row and each column.

2. Biology. noting or pertaining to a name that consists of a single word or term.

---

noun

1. Algebra. a monomial expression or quantity.

monomial British  

/ mɒˈnəʊmɪəl /

noun

1. maths an expression consisting of a single term, such as 5 ax

---

adjective

1. consisting of a single algebraic term

2. biology of, relating to, or denoting a taxonomic name that consists of a single term

monomial Scientific  

/ mŏ-nō′mē-əl /

1. An algebraic expression consisting of a single term, especially one of the form ax ⁿ, where a is a number and n is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

---

Etymology

Origin of monomial

First recorded in 1700–10; mon- + (bin)omial

Explanation

In math, a monomial consists of just one term that's made up of whole numbers. The number 12 is a monomial, and so is the term 5x². Polynomials, which are algebraic expressions that look like this: x6 + 4x3 + 3x2 − 7, are composed of a string of monomials (four, in this case). Each individual term is a monomial, as long as it doesn't contain a negative exponent or a fraction. Monomial actually comes from polynomial, coined by swapping out the prefix poly-, or "many," for mono-, "one."

Example Sentences

At the tail end of a long studio session in preparation for her first full-length album, the L.A.-based artist known by her monomial Yendry is reminiscing on Zoom.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2023

Some examples of monomial in one variable are.

From Textbooks • May 6, 2020

A monomial is an algebraic expression with one term.

From Textbooks • May 6, 2020

A monomial in one variable is a term of the form axm, where a is a constant and m is a whole number.

From Textbooks • May 6, 2020

But what, it may be inquired, is this great primary truth which the monomial system tends to violate?

From On the Variation of Species, with Especial Reference to the Insecta ; Followed by an Inquiry into the Nature of Genera by Wollaston, Thomas Vernon