Word
monotony
US/məˈnɑtəni/
UK/mənˈɒtəni/
Uncountable noun
In Japanese
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
Definition
n. the feeling of being bored because something is the same all the time. It describes a situation that lacks variety and is very repetitive.
n. the quality of being monotonous; a state of tedious uniformity or lack of variety. Often used to describe repetitive tasks or environments that fail to provide stimulation.
Examples
“The long drive across the desert was filled with monotony.”
“After working the same shift for three months, the monotony of the job started to wear on his patience.”
“The architect's design was criticized for its lack of aesthetic variety, as the repetitive use of identical windows and doors created a sense of visual monotony that failed to engage the viewer.”
Examples
simple
“The long drive across the desert was filled with monotony.”
contextual
“After working the same shift for three months, the monotony of the job started to wear on his patience.”
complex
“The architect's design was criticized for its lack of aesthetic variety, as the repetitive use of identical windows and doors created a sense of visual monotony that failed to engage the viewer.”
Real-World Examples
“If your go-to treat isn’t “hitting” anymore, “monotony, steady, repeated action, is actually the clue here.” Etymology
From French monotonie, from Late Latin monotonia, from Ancient Greek μονοτονία (monotonía, “sameness of tone, monotony”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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