monoculture

[ mon-uh-kuhl-cher ]

noun

1. Agriculture.
   1. Also called mon·o·crop·ping [mon, -, uh, -krop-ing]. the use of land for growing only one type of crop:

      They are making the same mistake as the foresters who seek to replace diverse forests with monocultures.

   2. Also called monocrop. a crop grown in this manner:

      The cultivation of crops, especially monocultures like soy, palm oil, and cocoa, is another significant factor in habitat loss.

2. 1. a way of life, worldview, set of popular media touchstones, etc., that is considered emblematic of a dominant culture:

      The show played an important role in the media monoculture of the 1950s.

   2. a single culture considered with respect to its homogeneity:

      The small island's monoculture changed drastically when it became an international tourist destination.

monoculture

/ ˈmɒnəʊˌkʌltʃə /

noun

1. the continuous growing of one type of crop

Other Words From

• mon·o·cul·tur·al [mon-, uh, -, kuhl, -cher-, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of monoculture¹

First recorded in 1910–15; mono- + culture

Example Sentences

Disney Channel’s monoculture has fractured and now it’s not enough to be the star of one of its shows, Spencer says.

From Los Angeles Times

The root of the problem is that the United States and Silicon Valley in particular are dominated by what we call an “investor monoculture.”

From Los Angeles Times

They’re also less likely to be cultivated in complete monocultures than oil palms, which diffuses their impact on surrounding ecosystems.

From Salon

Mass production by agribusinesses is marring the environment, while monoculture farming practices are giving deadly pathogens a biological edge.

From Los Angeles Times

Honeybees, a European import, work best with monocultures, such as apple or cherry orchards.

From Seattle Times