monoculture
MON-oh-kul-chur
/ˈmɒnəʊˌkʌltʃə/
The cultivation of a single crop in a given area.
Often used critically to describe industrial farming that lacks biodiversity and is vulnerable to pests.
The story behind the word. From the Greek 'monos' (single) and Latin 'cultura' (cultivation). It entered the English language in the early 20th century as industrial farming practices expanded.
Word relationships
- polyculture: The practice of growing multiple crops in the same space.
Commonly confused with
- biodiversity: Monoculture is the opposite of biodiversity in an agricultural setting.
Collocations
- agricultural monoculture
- industrial monoculture
- monoculture farming
Example sentences
- "The reliance on monoculture makes crops more susceptible to devastating diseases." Agricultural critique
- "Large-scale monoculture plantations have replaced diverse tropical forests in many regions." Environmental impact
Memory hook
Mono (one) + Culture (growing). Mono-Culture = One-Crop.
When not to use
Can also be used metaphorically for culture (e.g., 'global monoculture'), but in this context, it is strictly agricultural.
Fun facts
- The Irish Potato Famine was a tragic result of a monoculture, where the entire population relied on a single variety of potato.
Related words
Explore more words
crop rotation, rotation, homogenization, overpopulated, homogenize
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.