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

This trail is best hiked March-June or September-October, outside of summer heat and monsoon season. —Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026

However, South Asia was considered a poor area for horse breeding due to the heat and monsoons. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 20 Mar. 2026

One area that’s already been much diminished as broadcasters look to save up for a monsoon-y day is entertainment programming. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 6 Mar. 2026

Late spring is the start of the wet monsoon season in Myanmar, when heavy rains and squalling winds sweep in from the Bay of Bengal. —Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 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