Meanings
nounmonotype (countable and uncountable, plural monotypes)
plural monotypes
- countableuncountableartA print made by creating the design using oil paint or printer's ink on metal or glass, then transferring the image directly to paper.
- uncountableartThe technique of making such prints.
- countableuncountableA keyboard-operated typesetting and casting machine that makes and sets separate characters.
- countableuncountablenauticalA sailboat designed to be crewed or raced by a single person.
- countableuncountablecomputingIn the Hindley–Milner type system, a single specific data type.
verbmonotype (third-person singular simple present monotypes, present participle monotyping, simple past and past participle monotyped)
present singular third person monotypes · participle present monotyping · participle past monotyped · past monotyped
- transitiveTo produce a monotype of.
to monotype an engraving
Origin
From mono- + type or mono- + -type. The printing technique is so called because it allows only one impression to be taken.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French monotype, monotype
- monotypea print of some design created on metal or glass
- monotypea typesetting machine
German Monotype
- Monotypea typesetting machine
Greek μονοτύπης
- μονοτύπης (monotýpis)a monotypic taxon
Italian monotipo
- monotipoa print of some design created on metal or glass
Polish monotypia, monotypia
- monotypiaa print of some design created on metal or glass
- monotypiaa technique of making a monotype
- monotypa monotypic taxon
- monotypa typesetting machine
Cite this entry
APA
monotype. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monotype
MLA
“monotype.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monotype. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “monotype,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monotype.
Source: monotype on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.