monosyllabic

[ mon-uh-si-lab-ik ]

adjective

1. having only one syllable, as the word no.
2. having a vocabulary composed primarily of monosyllables or short, simple words.
3. very brief; terse or blunt:

   a monosyllabic reply.

monosyllabic

/ ˌmɒnəsɪˈlæbɪk /

adjective

1. (of a word) containing only one syllable
2. characterized by monosyllables; curt

   a monosyllabic answer

Derived Forms

• ˌmonosylˈlabically, adverb

Other Words From

• mono·syl·labi·cal·ly adverb
• mon·o·syl·la·bic·i·ty [mon-, uh, -sil-, uh, -, bis, -i-tee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of monosyllabic¹

1815–25; < Medieval Latin monosyllabicus, equivalent to Late Latin monosyllab ( on ) monosyllable (< Greek monosýllabon, noun use of neuter of monosýllabos monosyllabic) + -icus -ic

Example Sentences

Ice Spice has a way with a hilarious, monosyllabic insult hurled like a blunt instrument.

From New York Times

Stroll then used an expletive in a monosyllabic TV interview afterwards, in which he said just seven words in response to three questions.

From BBC

Here, with his hand gestures and the frequent monosyllabic exclamations of exasperation, the actor’s Salvo sometimes resembles a kinder, gentler version of his Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull.”

From New York Times

To quote “Now & Then” column founder Paul Dorpat, “In the moment it might take an exhausted barrister to mouth a monosyllabic indecency, the old embarrassment was leveled.”

From Seattle Times

Having made peace with my own widely used, boringly monosyllabic surname years ago, I read that story with no small amusement.

From Los Angeles Times