monosyllabic

American  

[mon-uh-si-lab-ik] / ˌmɒn ə sɪˈlæb ɪk /

adjective

1. having only one syllable, as the word no.

2. having a vocabulary composed primarily of monosyllables or short, simple words.

3. very brief; terse or blunt.

   a monosyllabic reply.

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monosyllabic British  

/ ˌmɒnəsɪˈlæbɪk /

adjective

1. (of a word) containing only one syllable

2. characterized by monosyllables; curt

   a monosyllabic answer

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Other Word Forms

• monosyllabically
  adverb
• monosyllabicity
  noun

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 syllabe, "syllable." You can also describe a person who tends to talk this way, in grunts or short words, as monosyllabic, like your cranky old grandpa or a newly verbal toddler.

Example Sentences

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

"I think I got very solitary, very monosyllabic during that time. I won't sugar coat it - I was in a very, very bad place at that time."

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2024

Goofy, youthful, monosyllabic, here-for-a-good-time-but-not-a-long-time and above all things — exclamatory!

From New York Times • Jul. 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