monograph
MON-uh-graf
/ˈmɒn.ə.ɡrɑːf/
A detailed written study or book on a single specialized subject, usually by a single author.
Strictly academic and single-subject focused, intended for specialists rather than general readers.
The story behind the word. Formed from Greek 'mono-' (single, alone) and 'grapho' (to write or record). Coined in early 19th-century scientific research, the term described scholarly papers or books that examined just one specific plant species, chemical compound, or historical event with absolute thoroughness.
Word relationships
- treatise: Treatise is a broad formal exposition of principles, whereas a monograph is a detailed scholarly book focused narrowly on one specific topic.
- anthology: An anthology is a collection of writings by diverse authors, whereas a monograph is a single focused study.
Commonly confused with
- periodical: A monograph is a standalone single-subject work, while a periodical is a recurring multi-topic publication.
Word family
- monographic (adjective): relating to or characteristic of a monograph
Collocations
- scholarly monograph
- publish a monograph
- author a monograph
- historical monograph
Example sentences
- "The professor spent five years researching and writing a monograph on Byzantine architecture." Academic publishing
- "The museum published a scholarly monograph detailing the discovery of new marine species." Scientific literature
Memory hook
MONO (single) + GRAPH (write) = Single subject writing. Detailed scholarly book on one topic.
When not to use
Do not use for general survey textbooks or literary collections containing works by multiple authors.
Fun facts
- In university academic tenure reviews, publishing a peer-reviewed monograph with an esteemed university press is often a required milestone for humanities scholars.
Related words
Explore more words
treatise, exclusivity, monologue, monotheism, memoir, dissertation
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.