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REFERENCE

monthly

n.
US //ˈmənθɫi// UK //mˈʌnθli// month·ly
  1. 1 a magazine (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a magazine that comes out once every month.

    a periodical publication issued once a month.

    Example

    She writes a regular column for a popular fashion monthly.

    Example

    While many dailies are struggling, this high-end monthly has maintained a loyal readership through its long-form investigative journalism.
  2. 2 menstrual period (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Medicine

    a polite or indirect way to talk about a woman's period.

    a euphemistic reference to the menstrual cycle.

    Example

    She was feeling quite tired because her monthly had just started.

    Example

    In many traditional households, women used coded language like 'my monthly' to discuss their health without causing social discomfort.

    Usage

    Usually used with a possessive pronoun like 'her' or 'my'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a euphemism; while common in older or more modest contexts, modern speakers often use the word 'period' directly.
Etymology 1

From month + -ly (adjectival suffix), perhaps via Middle English monethly (attested only adverbially), from Old English mōnaþlīċ (“monthly”), from Proto-West Germanic mānōþlīk, from Proto-Germanic *mēnōþlīkaz (“monthly”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian moundelk (“monthly”), German monatlich (“monthly”), Danish månedlig (“monthly”), Swedish månatlig (“monthly”), Norwegian Bokmål månedlig (“monthly”), Icelandic mánaðarlegur (“monthly”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English monethly, equivalent to month + -ly (adverbial suffix). Cognate with Saterland Frisian moundelk (“monthly”), Dutch maandelijks (“monthly”), German monatlich (“monthly”), Swedish månatligen (“monthly”).

Word family
  • Nounmonth
  • Adjectivemonthly

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