ENGLISH
REFERENCE

monday

n. C / U
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈmənˌdeɪ// mon·day General-service Informal

n. the first day of the work week, coming after Sunday. Most people see it as the start of the school or business week.

n. the day of the week following Sunday and preceding Tuesday. Traditionally considered the second day of the week in religious calendars, but the first day of the work week in modern secular contexts.


SIMPLE

I always feel tired on Monday morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The office is usually very busy on Monday because we have to answer all the emails from the weekend.

COMPLEX

While some employees prefer a slow start to the week, the manager insists on holding the primary briefing every Monday to establish clear objectives for the coming days.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English Monday, Monenday, from Old English mōnandæġ (“day of the moon”), from Proto-West Germanic *mānini dag, a calque (interpretātiō germānica) of Latin diēs Lūnae, equivalent to Moon + day. See also Japanese 月曜日 (“Moon's day”). Cognates Compare Scots Monanday (“Monday”), Yola Mondei (“Monday”), Saterland Frisian Moundai (“Monday”), West Frisian moandei (“Monday”), Alemannic German meintog, miantag, méntag, mìntàg, mäntag, Määntig (“Monday”), Bavarian Monda, Mondåg, montach, monti (“Monday”), Cimbrian matak, menta, méentag (“Monday”), Dutch maandag (“Monday”), German Montag (“Monday”), German Low German Maandag (“Monday”), Luxembourgish Méindeg (“Monday”), Mòcheno ma'ta (“Monday”), Pennsylvania German Mundaag, Muundaag (“Monday”), Vilamovian möntaog (“Monday”), West Flemish moandag (“Monday”), Yiddish מאָנטיק (montik, “Monday”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål mandag (“Monday”), Faroese mánadagur (“Monday”), Icelandic mánudagur (“Monday”), Norwegian Nynorsk, Swedish måndag (“Monday”), Finnish maanantai (“Monday”).

Usage

Capitalized in all contexts. When used as a countable noun, it refers to a specific instance of the day or a recurring pattern.

Pitfall

I will see you in MondayI will see you on MondayDays of the week take the preposition 'on', not 'in'.

© 2026 English Reference