monthly
Americanadjective
noun
plural
monthlies-
a periodical published once a month.
-
Informal. Sometimes monthlies. a menstrual period.
adverb
adjective
-
occurring, done, appearing, payable, etc, once every month
-
lasting or valid for a month
a monthly subscription
adverb
noun
-
a book, periodical, magazine, etc, published once a month
-
informal a menstrual period
Other Word Forms
- half-monthly adjective
Etymology
Origin of monthly
Explanation
Anything monthly happens once a month. A monthly paycheck will enable you to pay your monthly rent. Whew! Monthly works well as both an adjective and an adverb, describing anything that occurs every month. You might get a monthly paycheck or make monthly phone calls to your grandmother. Or a freelance writer might write a couple of articles monthly and travel monthly to a nearby amusement park. A monthly can also be a magazine that's published once a month.
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.
“This improvement, coupled with a pickup in purchase applications and refinance activity, as well as an increase in monthly pending home sales, underscores signs of improving momentum in the market,” Khater said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026
It’s also what drives many to claim at their earliest possible age, permanently reducing their monthly benefit.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026
The country’s 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. 22, 2026
The Federal Reserve prefers the PCE index for inflation, citing its broader scope, inclusion of rural households, and monthly weighting updates.
From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026
A hundred dollars a day, almost enough for her monthly rent.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
