monophonic

American  

[mon-uh-fon-ik] / ˌmɒn əˈfɒn ɪk /

adjective

1. Music. of or relating to monophony.

2. Also of or noting a system of sound recording and reproduction using only a single channel.

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monophonic British  

/ ˌmɒnəʊˈfɒnɪk, mɒˈnɒfənɪ /

adjective

1. Also: monaural.  Sometimes shortened to: mono.  (of a system of broadcasting, recording, or reproducing sound) using only one channel between source and loudspeaker Compare stereophonic

2. music of or relating to a style of musical composition consisting of a single melodic line See also monody

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Other Word Forms

• monophonically adverb
• monophony noun

Etymology

Origin of monophonic

First recorded in 1880–85; monophon(y) + -ic

Example Sentences

Call any time, day or night, and they will deliver the low-bitrate, monophonic Hall and Oates song of your choosing directly to your ear.

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2021

The 170 is an analog monophonic synthesizer with a programmable sequencer that comes with a 70-page illustrated manual, including several sample patch diagrams to get you started.Price:

From The Verge • Nov. 5, 2019

With their monophonic synth-prodding, I might have disdained Depeche Mode, but in his own way, the all-conquering Shakin' Stevens seemed no less lazy to me.

From The Guardian • Nov. 13, 2012

Susan Hellauer sang the monophonic 15th-century “Tydings Trew,” which relates the story of the Annunciation, and Ruth Cunningham the gentle “Lullay My Child.”

From New York Times • Dec. 16, 2010

But what all this chant had in common was that it was one memorised, meandering tune with no accompaniment and no harmonising, the Greek term for which is monophonic: one voice.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• consistent
• continual
• nonstop
• perpetual
• regular
• stable
• steady
• unbroken
• uninterrupted