monthly

n. countable

B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈmənθɫi// UK //mˈʌnθli// month·ly

General-service Humorous

n. a magazine that is published once every month. You might also use this word to talk about a bill or payment you make every four weeks.

n. a periodical publication issued once per month. In financial contexts, it may refer to a recurring monthly payment or expense.

SIMPLE

She buys a popular fashion monthly at the train station.

CONTEXTUAL

The editor decided to transition the publication from a weekly newspaper to a high-quality glossy monthly.

COMPLEX

While the digital edition attracts more daily traffic, the print monthly remains the primary vehicle for the magazine's long-form investigative journalism and high-end photography.

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”).

Usage

Commonly used to refer to magazines, but can also function as a shorthand for monthly bills in casual conversation.