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Synonyms

monthly

American  
[muhnth-lee] / ˈmʌnθ li /

adjective

  1. pertaining to a month, or to each month.

  2. done, happening, appearing, etc., once a month.

    a monthly magazine.

  3. computed or determined by the month.

    a monthly salary.

  4. continuing or lasting for a month.

noun

plural

monthlies

  1. a periodical published once a month.

  2. Informal. Sometimes monthlies. a menstrual period.

adverb

  1. once a month; by the month.

monthly British  
/ ˈmʌnθlɪ /

adjective

  1. occurring, done, appearing, payable, etc, once every month

  2. lasting or valid for a month

    a monthly subscription
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. once a month

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a book, periodical, magazine, etc, published once a month

  2. informal a menstrual period

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • half-monthly adjective

Etymology

Origin of monthly

First recorded in 1525–35; month + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even with Tuesday’s bounce, Boeing’s stock still dropped 12.5% in March — the Iran conflict started on Feb. 28 — to suffer its biggest monthly decline since it lost 13% on April 30.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

There was a lengthy debate on the street sign issue at the council monthly meeting at City Hall.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

The trade surplus reached a monthly record on strong demand for semiconductor shipments, a key growth engine through last year’s tariff-related trade turbulence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The summerlike heat in March broke monthly records in many areas of the Western U.S., accelerating the melting of snow in the Rocky Mountains as well.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

It won’t be long now, says Cora, doling out my monthly stack of sanitary napkins.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.