monoculture

noun

mono·​cul·​ture ˈmä-nə-ˌkəl-chər 

1

a

: the cultivation or growth of a single crop or organism especially on agricultural or forest land

b

: a crop or a population of a single kind of organism grown on land in monoculture

c

: growth consisting of a single crop, plant, or organism

The plant forms a thick monoculture that cuts down on the variety of plants and birdlife in the marsh …

—James Gorman

2

: a culture dominated by a single element : a prevailing culture marked by homogeneity

monocultural

ˌmä-nə-ˈkəlch-rəl 

-ˈkəl-chə-

adjective

Examples of monoculture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many species introduced in the early phases of the program—especially fast-growing poplars and pines grown in monoculture plantations—were poorly suited to the harsh, dry environments of northern China. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Star Trek portrays its most familiar alien species as monocultures; even more casual viewers generally know what behavior to expect from a Klingon, a Romulan, or a Ferengi. —Ars Technica, 28 Jan. 2025

Maize monoculture supported pre-Columbian urbanism in southwestern Amazonia Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025

Birch chalks this up, in part, to the monoculture that existed in the ’90s, before the Internet and streaming fragmented everyone’s viewing habits. —John Russell, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for monoculture

• agriculture
• apiculture
• aquaculture
• counterculture
• floriculture
• horticulture
• mariculture
• sericulture
• silviculture
• viticulture
• arboriculture
• culture