monologue

American  

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

Or monolog

noun

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  

/ məˈnɒləɡɪst, mɒˈnɒlədʒɪ, ˈmɒnəˌlɒɡɪst, ˌmɒnəˈlɒdʒɪk, 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

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

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

She interviews guests but can also go into a 30-plus minute monologue without a script when she records at iHeart’s midtown Manhattan studios, where ChaCha looks on from a cushy pillow.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026

Tottenham boss Roberto de Zerbi urged his players to "silence the voice inside of us" during an impassioned four-minute monologue at the start of his pre-match news conference on Friday.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

Kimmel portrayed himself in a monologue as the MC of that upcoming banquet.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

Luz’s monologue revealing Elliot’s turpitude is a rare stagy moment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

All he had to do was to transfer to paper the interminable restless monologue that had been running inside his head, literally for years.

From "1984" by George Orwell

Related Words

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