monologue

noun

mono·​logue ˈmä-nə-ˌlȯg 

-ˌläg

variants or less commonly monolog

1

a

: soliloquy sense 2

the monologue at the beginning of the scene

b

: a dramatic sketch performed by one actor

c

: the routine of a stand-up comic

The comedian's monologue about his family was hilarious.

2

: a literary composition written in the form of a soliloquy

Her poems were monologues about unrequited love.

3

: a long speech monopolizing conversation

I stifled a yawn as she continued her monologue about her vacation experiences.

monologuist

ˈmä-nə-ˌlȯ-gist 

-ˌlä-

noun

or monologist

ˈmä-nə-ˌlȯ-gist 

-ˌlä-,

mə-ˈnä-lə-jist,

-gist

Did you know?

Soliloquy vs. Monologue

Soliloquy and monologue cover very similar ground, but there are some important differences between the two words. Soliloquy (from the Latin solus “alone” and loqui “to speak”) at its most basic level refers to the act of talking to oneself, and more specifically denotes the solo utterance of an actor in a drama. It tends to be used of formal or literary expressions, such as Hamlet’s soliloquies. Monologue (from Greek monos "alone" and legein "to speak") may also refer to a dramatic scene in which an actor soliloquizes, but it has other meanings as well. To a stand-up comedian, monologue denotes a comic routine. To a bored listener, it signifies a long speech uttered by someone who has too much to say.

Examples of monologue in a Sentence

The play begins with the main character's monologue.

The comedian is famous for his monologue about winning the lottery.

I stifled a yawn as she launched into a monologue about how she is going to become a famous star.

Recent Examples on the Web

At that time, the group of creative consultants — who generate segment ideas, conversation starters and monologues — filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board after management allegedly declined to voluntarily recognize the group. —Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024

Gosling, 43, also appeared on the show just last week during Kristen Wiig’s opening monologue, securing a coveted Five-Timers Club jacket from series creator Lorne Michaels — despite having only hosted twice at that point. —Tabitha Parent, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2024

These particular visitors engage in what feels like continuous stream-of-consciousness monologues. —Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024

Rudd, thrilled by the theme of Wiig’s monologue, couldn’t contain himself. —William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024

His internal monologue is like my internal monologue, this sadistic version of you and God that is somehow meaner than both. —Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024

Advertisement At the top of the hour, Hall addressed the incident in a brief opening monologue. —Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

In a one-minute monologue, Karla laces into the emptiness of certain transactional gay relationships, her perspective that of a weary veteran of one too many conditional trysts. —Louis Lucero Ii, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024

But the trend of B-list (or worse) celebrities attempting a monologue from the Studio 8H stage has been a huge handicap for the show over the past few years. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French monologue, from mon- + -logue

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing monologue

• dramatic monologue
• interior monologue

Kids Definition

monologue

noun

mono·​logue

variants also monolog

ˈmän-ᵊl-ˌȯg 

-ˌäg

1

: a short dramatic work performed by one actor

2

: a long uninterrupted speech delivered by one person in the presence of others

monologuist

-ᵊl-ˌȯg-əst 

-ˌäg-

noun

or monologist

mə-ˈnäl-ə-jəst 

ˈmän-ᵊl-ˌȯg-əst,

-ˌäg-