monoculture

noun

mono·​cul·​ture ˈmä-nə-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce monoculture (audio)
1
a
: the cultivation or growth of a single crop or organism especially on agricultural or forest land
b
: a crop or a population of a single kind of organism grown on land in monoculture
c
: growth consisting of a single crop, plant, or organism
The plant forms a thick monoculture that cuts down on the variety of plants and birdlife in the marsh …James Gorman
2
: a culture dominated by a single element : a prevailing culture marked by homogeneity
monocultural adjective

Examples of monoculture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Wilkinson studied agriculture in the 1970s when monoculture was encouraged after a post-World War II drive for the U.K. to import less food and become more self-sufficient. Lucy Handley, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025 Aside from their high water needs, grass lawns are also monocultures that offer few benefits for wildlife or variety and interest to the eye. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2025 This finding contradicts earlier theories that a monoculture was not part of that area’s lifestyle. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025 A number of comedians, critics and figures in media and culture say the downside of the level of control exerted by Michaels is a stifling of voices and, effectively, the perpetuation of a monoculture. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for monoculture

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of monoculture was in 1901

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Cite this Entry

“Monoculture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monoculture. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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