monolingual

IPA/ˌmɒnəˈlɪŋɡwəl/
KK[mˌɑnəlˈɪŋɡwəl]IPA/ˌmɑːnəˈlɪŋɡwəl/

monolingual — adjective

  • monolingualpositive
  • more monolingualcomparative
  • most monolingualsuperlative

1. describes a person who can speak and understand only one language, rather than t

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a person who can speak and understand only one language, rather than two or more

Example

Ziad grew up in a small town and remained monolingual until he moved abroad for university.

predicative: remained monolingual + until [event]

Many elderly people in the village are monolingual and have never needed a second language.

Common collocations
  • monolingual speaker
  • monolingual child
  • monolingual adult
  • monolingual in [language]
Synonyms
  • unilingual

    much less common; used mainly in Canadian English (e.g., unilingual French speaker)

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

monolingual + noun

be + monolingual

monolingual + in + language

Usage Note

Frequently used in contrast with bilingual and multilingual when discussing language education, demographics, or personal language skills.

Common Mistakes

She is monolingual in five languages.
She is monolingual in Spanish.
monolingual means one language, so it cannot describe someone who knows several languages.

2. describes a country, region, or community whose people use a single language for

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a country, region, or community whose people use a single language for everyday communication and official business

Example

Japan is often described as a largely monolingual society despite having regional dialects.

attributive: monolingual society / community / country

The remote island community remained monolingual for centuries because few outsiders visited.

Common collocations
  • monolingual society
  • monolingual country
  • monolingual community
  • monolingual region
Synonyms
  • single-language

    less common compound adjective, often used before a noun (e.g., single-language policy)

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

monolingual + noun (society / country / region / community)

remain + monolingual

once + monolingual

Usage Note

Subject is typically a collective noun — country, society, region, or community. This sense focuses on the language practice of a group, not of an individual.

3. describes a book, document, or test that is written or given in only one languag

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a book, document, or test that is written or given in only one language, with no translations into other languages

Example

The library's monolingual dictionary gave definitions in French with no English translations.

attributive: monolingual dictionary / textbook / exam

Ari sat at the wooden desk in the testing center and opened the monolingual TOEFL iBT reading section.

Common collocations
  • monolingual dictionary
  • monolingual textbook
  • monolingual exam
  • monolingual guide
Synonyms
  • single-language

    less common compound adjective used similarly for materials (e.g., single-language dictionary)

Antonyms
  • bilingual

    containing or written in two languages side by side (e.g., bilingual dictionary)

Grammar Patterns

monolingual + noun (dictionary / textbook / exam / guide)

Usage Note

Only sense that typically appears with nouns referring to written or educational materials. Frequently used in language-teaching methodology discussions.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Monolingual, unilingual, bilingual, multilingual, and polyglot all describe language ability, but they differ in scope and register. Unilingual is a much less common synonym of monolingual, used mainly in Canadian English contexts such as a unilingual French speaker. Bilingual describes someone who uses two languages, while multilingual covers three or more. Polyglot is a more impressive-sounding term for someone who knows many languages, often used in travel or lifestyle writing. For example: 'She is monolingual in Spanish' states a straightforward fact, whereas 'He is a true polyglot who speaks six languages' carries an admiring tone. Monolingual is the neutral, standard term in academic and everyday use.

unilingual ↗bilingual ↗multilingual ↗polyglot

Common collocations

Nouns

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Monolingual was formed in English in the early 20th century by combining the prefix mono- ('one, single,' from Greek monos) with the word lingual ('relating to language,' from Latin lingua 'tongue, language'). The structure follows the same pattern as bilingual and multilingual, which were already established in English.