monologue

American  

[mon-uh-lawg, -log] / ˈmɒn əˌlɔg, -ˌlɒg /

Or monolog

noun

• monologues
  plural

1. a form of dramatic entertainment, comedic solo, or the like by a single speaker.

   a comedian's monologue.

2. a prolonged talk or discourse by a single speaker, especially one dominating or monopolizing a conversation.

3. any composition, as a poem, in which a single person speaks alone.

4. a part of a drama in which a single actor speaks alone; soliloquy.

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monologue British  

/ ˈmɒnəˌlɒɡ /

noun

1. a long speech made by one actor in a play, film, etc, esp when alone

2. a dramatic piece for a single performer

3. any long speech by one person, esp when interfering with conversation

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• monologist
  noun
• monologuist
  noun
• monology
  noun
• monologic
  adjective
• monological
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• monologues
  plural

Etymology

Origin of monologue

1615–25; < French, on the model of dialogue dialogue; compare Greek monólogos speaking alone

Explanation

A monologue is a speech delivered by one person, or a long one-sided conversation that makes you want to pull your hair out from boredom. The Greek root word monologos translates to “speaking alone,” and that’s a monologue: one person doing all the talking. In theatre, sometimes a character has a monologue that they perform. You might have an internal monologue where you talk to yourself to better understand some dilemma. Some people talk forever in a constant monologue, never letting you speak. If two people talk back and forth, it’s a dialogue, which is different and probably more fun for everyone.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

monologue monologues

Still, Gervais remained undeterred, doubling and tripling down on his comedy and delivering a since-viral “I don’t care” monologue during his final hosting stint.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

The lead single from her second album, That Day, was a free-verse stream-of-consciousness that sounded like a manic inner monologue.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

Last year, the company stopped holding earnings conference calls with analysts—typical for public companies—opting instead to have Ishbia answer pre-gathered questions in a monologue.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

In a closing monologue, Odysseus looks ahead to the collapse of the Bronze Age, imagining a future in which his world and everything that happened to him will be forgotten.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

It’s a monologue, not short, so for Zach to blow it would get the play off to a very poor start, and probably also spook the rest of the cast.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

You can’t really blame them if their response to the self-absorbed internal monologues of an unreliable narrator is, Oh, boo hoo.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

On one weekend in Tokyo, hundreds of visitors flocked to a zine fair showcasing a wide range of handmade magazines in different sizes and formats -- some incorporating abstract designs, photography or personal monologues.

From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026

“The Late Show” was dubbed ”A Late Show” for a stretch when he hosted from his New Jersey residence, delivering monologues to nobody but the camera operated with help from his wife, Evie.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

It has been a memorable run of shows, but there were countless interviews and monologues over the years that made Colbert and “The Late Show” a must-watch.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026

Olanna tuned the radio; it was too early for the war broadcasts, for the fire-filled monologues on Biafra’s greatness that she desperately needed to hear.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• discourse
• harangue
• lecture
• sermon
• soliloquy
• speech