Meaning & use
monochrome
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Made in only one color or in different shades of one color, such as black, white and gray.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a monochrome photo, the picture is monochrome.
Patterns
- a monochrome photograph
- a monochrome palette
The old film was monochrome, with no color at all.
She painted the room in a monochrome scheme of soft blues.
He prefers a monochrome wardrobe of black and gray.
adjectivecomparablefigurative
Dull and lacking variety or interest.
Grammar: A figurative use, usually before a noun: a monochrome routine.
Patterns
- a monochrome existence
The monochrome landscape of winter made her long for spring.
His days at the office were monochrome, one just like the next.
nouncountable
A picture, photograph or design made in a single color or in shades of one color.
Grammar: Often found in the phrase in monochrome: the images were printed in monochrome.
Patterns
- in monochrome
- a monochrome of something
The exhibition showed a series of monochromes in charcoal gray.
Most newspaper photos used to be printed in monochrome.
Word forms
| plural | monochromes |
|---|
Common combinations
- monochrome photograph
- A monochrome photograph hung above the fireplace.
- in monochrome
- The magazine was printed entirely in monochrome.
- monochrome palette
- The designer chose a monochrome palette for the apartment.
- monochrome display
- Early computers had a monochrome display.
- monochrome painting
- The monochrome painting used only shades of green.
Synonyms and how they differ
- black-and-white
- Black-and-white refers only to black, white and gray, while monochrome can be any single color and its shades.
- monotone
- Monotone often describes a flat, unchanging voice or sound, and is less common for pictures than monochrome.
- single-color
- Single-color is the plain description, and monochrome is the more technical, artistic term.
- drab
- Drab means dull and lifeless, and does not say anything about the number of colors.
Opposites
Word family
- monochromatic adjective
- having only one color
- monochromatically adverb
- in a single color
- polychrome adjective
- having many colors
- chrome noun
- a shiny metal coating, from the Greek word for color
Commonly confused: monochrome or monotone?
monochrome vs monotone
Monotone usually refers to sound that stays on one pitch, while monochrome usually refers to visual color.
Practice
A designer paints the walls, curtains and floor in different shades of green. Which word best describes the room?
Choose one answer.
Monochrome means one color in several shades, which fits shades of green. Polychrome means many different colors, which is the tempting opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “monochrome”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.