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

Example Sentences

A famously theatrical monologue, given by a man as police arrested him at a Chinese restaurant in Australia, has officially been preserved by the country's national archive.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Debut host Tina Fey, a former “SNL” star and head writer, started her monologue with a cheeky explainer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Fey, a former SNL head writer as well as cast member, gave a monologue which also served as an introduction to the show for those unaware of its US counterpart.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

Even the stray shots at Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos in O’Brien’s monologue and short sketches about distracted viewers who don’t want to pay proper attention had the chummy air of being all in good fun.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2026

At this moment, however, even the monologue had dried up.

From "1984" by George Orwell

Related Words

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