monologue
noun
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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
Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
The show, which was spotted by LateNighter, was structured like a classic late night show, albeit with a monologue focused on issues relevant to southern Michigan and interviews.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2026
Host Stephen Colbert — in an impossible position since his firing was announced last July, nearly a year before his final episode was to air — creditably did a full-jokes monologue, and then kept telling jokes at the desk.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 22 May 2026
Concha said the show employs 22 writers to write Colbert’s monologues, according to the show credits.
—Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for monologue
Cite this Entry
“Monologue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monologue. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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monologue
noun
