SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

dramatic monologue

noun

Definition of dramatic monologue

:a literary work (such as a poem) in which a speaker's character is revealed in a monologue usually addressed to a second person

First Known Use of dramatic monologue

circa 1935

Learn More about dramatic monologue

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dramatic monologue

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up dramatic monologue? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

adversity

play

serious difficulty or misfortune

Words at Play

alt-59ea52ed7b96f

Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Where did we get 'freshman' and 'sophomore'?

alt-59e900afadac6

The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

In the past, you could invent fruit.

alt-59e8c3440f453

I'll Have the Us(ual)

Shortening 'usual': easy to say, hard to spell

alt-59e77dc36c593

The Origins of 'Lobbyist'

From the front hallways to the back rooms

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals

Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots

The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these things doesn't belong?

Take the quiz

knupfer-painting-solon-before-croesus

Forms of Government Quiz

Name that government! Or something like that.

Take the quiz

Name That Thing

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz

Bee Cubed

Listen to the words and spell through all three levels.

Play the game