English Reference

Word

monograph

Phoneticsmono·graph

US/ˈmɑnəˌɡɹæf/

UK/mˈɒnəʊɡɹˌæf/

Definition

n. a detailed book or long article about one specific subject. It is usually written by an expert for other experts to read.

n. a detailed and highly documented treatise on a single specialized subject or aspect of it. Often scholarly in nature and intended for a professional or academic audience.

Examples

“The professor published a monograph on local history.”

“After years of research, she finally completed her monograph on the migration patterns of monarch butterflies.”

“The library's collection includes a rare monograph that provides an exhaustive analysis of the linguistic shifts occurring in the region during the late nineteenth century.”

Examples

simple

“The professor published a monograph on local history.”

contextual

“After years of research, she finally completed her monograph on the migration patterns of monarch butterflies.”

complex

“The library's collection includes a rare monograph that provides an exhaustive analysis of the linguistic shifts occurring in the region during the late nineteenth century.”

Usage

Commonly used in academic and scientific contexts to distinguish a focused study from a general textbook.

Real-World Examples

“He has published eight research monographs, four book chapters and more than 30 journal articles.”
Aeon · 4 Sept 2026

Etymology

From mono- (“one”) + -graph (“write”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Linguistics

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/monograph

English Reference