Ancient Greek word root · Number & Measure

mono-: one, single, alone

mono- is an Ancient Greek root meaning “one, single, alone”. Learn its variants and explore 15 connected words.

Meaning and variants

Meaning: one, single, alone

Root forms: mono-, mon-

Source word: μόνος — alone, forsaken, solitary

Word family and examples

• monopoly

  exclusive control of the supply of a commodity or service

• monarchy

  a form of government with a monarch at the head

• monologue

  a long speech by one actor or person

• monoxide

  Any oxide containing a single oxygen atom in each molecule or formula unit.

• monochrome

  A black and white image, especially such a photograph.

• monogram

  A sentence consisting of only one line, or an epigram consisting of only one verse, of poetry.

• monolith

  a large single upright block of stone

• monogamy

  A form of sexual bonding involving a permanent pair bond between two beings.

• monotheism

  Belief in the One True God, defined by More as personal, immaterial and trinitarian.

• monocle

  A single lens, usually in a wire frame, and used to correct vision for only one eye.

• monad

  One thing, one being, one item.

• monotype

  A print made by creating the design using oil paint or printer's ink on metal or glass, then transferring the image directly to paper.

• monosyllabic

  Consisting of one syllable.

• monism

  The doctrine of the oneness and unity of reality, despite the appearance of diversity in the world.

• monoplane

  Composed of, or relating to, a single plane (flat surface extending infinitely in all directions).

Root connections help with vocabulary recall. They are not a complete etymological history, and a spelling match alone does not prove a relationship.

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