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

When timing aligns, typically during spring snowmelt or shortly after heavy rain in the summer monsoon season, the payoff is spectacular. —Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026

Anza Borrego has recorded 6 inches since August, partly because the summer monsoon produced a lot of precipitation. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026

Arizona's summer storms that come with the monsoon season, coupled with winter rains, create frequent flooding throughout the state that can prove deadly for motorists. —Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 6 Jan. 2026

The result is a collection that has survived wars, fires, and centuries of monsoon weather with minimal deterioration. —Navya Verma, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 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