unilingual

American  

[yoo-nuh-ling-gwuhl, -ling-gyoo-uhl] / ˌyu nəˈlɪŋ gwəl, -ˈlɪŋ gyu əl /

adjective

1. using only one language.

   a unilingual book.

---

unilingual British  

/ ˌjuːnɪˈlɪŋɡwəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to only one language

2. knowing only one language

---

noun

1. a person who knows only one language

Other Word Forms

• unilingualism noun

Etymology

Origin of unilingual

First recorded in 1865–70; uni- + lingual

Example Sentences

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also criticized the CEO's conduct, saying he was "very disappointed, as others are, rightly so, in this unilingual message."

From Barron's

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the airline CEO for lacking compassion and judgment in delivering an unilingual English message.

From The Wall Street Journal

While running for the leadership of his party last year, Mr. Ford, who is unilingual, said in an interview that it would be ideal to know French because “I love Quebec. I love Quebecers. They’re passionate.”

From New York Times

In discussing people who are bilingual, he calls himself “barely unilingual,” but it takes some verbal dexterity to come up with that term.

From New York Times

Freund With Benefits For the impatient, socially awkward, unilingual traveler - in other words, for many of us - meeting locals can sometimes seem like a daunting proposition.

From New York Times