monsoon

noun

mon·​soon män-ˈsün 

ˈmän-ˌsün

1

: a periodic wind especially in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia

2

: the season of the southwest monsoon in India and adjacent areas that is characterized by very heavy rainfall

3

: rainfall that is associated with the monsoon

monsoonal

män-ˈsü-nᵊl 

ˈmän-ˌsü-

adjective

Examples of monsoon in a Sentence

floods caused by summer monsoons

Recent Examples on the Web

The Saint Charles Apothecary wildroot toiletries and powerful monsoon shower provide an invigorating start to the day. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 5 Nov. 2026

While the high-traffic Everest climbing season is over, Nepal is in the midst of its prime autumn trekking season, even as the country recovers from a devastating monsoon period that included deadly late-August flash floods. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

In Colorado, the summer monsoon season brought rainfall, helping firefighters gain ground. — Virginia Iglesias, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026

On July 8, 2025, monsoon rain hit a burn scar and quickly swelled the Rio Ruidoso and its tributaries. — Cengiz Yar, ProPublica, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

obsolete Dutch monssoen, from Portuguese monção, from Arabic mawsim time, season

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for monsoon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

Kids Definition

monsoon

noun

mon·​soon män-ˈsün 

1

: a periodic wind in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia

2

: the rainy season that accompanies the southwest monsoon

3

: rainfall that is associated with the monsoon season