monotony
Americannoun
-
wearisome uniformity or lack of variety, as in occupation or scenery.
-
the continuance of an unvarying sound; monotone.
-
sameness of tone or pitch, as in speaking.
noun
-
wearisome routine; dullness
-
lack of variety in pitch or cadence
Etymology
Origin of monotony
1700–10; < Late Greek monotonía, equivalent to monóton ( os ) monotonous + -ia -y 3
Explanation
Monotony is when you have too much of a boring thing: one tone of voice going on and on, one piece of flat music playing over and over, one infomercial droning on and on. There is no variety in monotony. Monotony goes back to the Greek root monotonos, which comes from mono-, "single," and tonos, "tone." One tone only equals monotony. A day with a lot of repetition, or monotony, is humdrum. When you get too much of the same boring, one-note thing, you experience monotony. Monotony. Monotony.
Vocabulary lists containing monotony
The Things They Carried
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Alchemist
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Stranger
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The monotony of a corporate job can be grating, but a steady paycheck provides a sense of security.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
He said his medium may have seen its peak during the turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau movement, which saw an embrace of organic forms and a rejection of Industrial Age mass-produced monotony.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026
The couple say prison life has returned to its normal monotony after the intense fear they experienced during the Israel-US war with Iran.
From BBC ● May 1, 2026
But there’s a limit to how many similar instances, all with the same structure, the film can retrace before it gives way to monotony.
From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026
Anything to break up the monotony of herring, salt tack, and sauerkraut at every meal.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
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.
