monosyllabic
Americanadjective
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having only one syllable, as the word no.
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having a vocabulary composed primarily of monosyllables or short, simple words.
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very brief; terse or blunt.
a monosyllabic reply.
adjective
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(of a word) containing only one syllable
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characterized by monosyllables; curt
a monosyllabic answer
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of monosyllabic
1815–25; < Medieval Latin monosyllabicus, equivalent to Late Latin monosyllab ( on ) monosyllable (< Greek monosýllabon, noun use of neuter of monosýllabos monosyllabic) + -icus -ic
Explanation
Any word or sound made up of just one syllable can be described with the adjective monosyllabic. Monosyllabic comes from the Greek prefix monos, "single," and syllabē, used to mean any collection of vocal sounds taken together to be uttered in a single breath — a syllable. You can also describe the replies or speaking style of a person who tends to talk using grunts or short words, as monosyllabic, like your cranky old grandpa's curt responses to the questions of a newly verbal toddler: "Yes," "No," "Huh?"
Vocabulary lists containing monosyllabic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I thought it was monosyllabic boys, going around looking at their feet and collecting information about trains."
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
It also launched the career of future Oscar-winner Jared Leto, who played Angela’s monosyllabic love interest, Jordan Catalano.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2024
Here, with his hand gestures and the frequent monosyllabic exclamations of exasperation, the actor’s Salvo sometimes resembles a kinder, gentler version of his Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull.”
From New York Times ● May 25, 2023
To quote “Now & Then” column founder Paul Dorpat, “In the moment it might take an exhausted barrister to mouth a monosyllabic indecency, the old embarrassment was leveled.”
From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2023
At dinner, when Mama asked how Sunday school was, he said “fine” in his usual monosyllabic way but gave me a warning look that I knew meant I should keep my mouth shut.
From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
