mondale: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low (very rare outside specific historical/political discourse)
UK/ˈmɒn.deɪl/US/ˈmɑːn.deɪl/

Formal, Historical, Political

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Quick answer

What does “mondale” mean?

A proper noun referring to Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale (1928–2021), the 42nd Vice President of the United States (1977–1981) and Democratic presidential nominee in 1984.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A proper noun referring to Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale (1928–2021), the 42nd Vice President of the United States (1977–1981) and Democratic presidential nominee in 1984.

Used as a historical and political reference to the 1984 U.S. presidential election, the modern Democratic Party, or certain policies associated with his vice presidency under Jimmy Carter. May also refer to his son, Ted Mondale, in Minnesota political contexts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

In British English, the name is recognised primarily in contexts of modern American political history. In American English, it has slightly broader recognition, especially among older generations or in Minnesota.

Connotations

Generally neutral as a proper name. In political analysis, may connote a landslide electoral defeat (referencing the 1984 result) or a certain era of liberal Democratic politics.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in both dialects, but marginally higher in American English due to domestic political history.

Grammar

How to Use “mondale” in a Sentence

[Proper Noun] as subject/object of historical discourse

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Walter MondaleFritz MondaleMondale campaignMondale administration
medium
Candidate MondaleVice President Mondalethe Mondale era
weak
Mondale speechMondale policyMondale debate

Examples

Examples of “mondale” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • [Not applicable as a verb]

American English

  • [Not applicable as a verb]

adverb

British English

  • [Not applicable as an adverb]

American English

  • [Not applicable as an adverb]

adjective

British English

  • [Not applicable as an adjective]

American English

  • [Not applicable as an adjective]

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Used in political science, modern American history, and presidential studies texts.

Everyday

Extremely rare. Might be mentioned in discussions of U.S. political history or major elections.

Technical

Not used in technical fields outside specific historical analysis.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “mondale”

Strong

Fritz MondaleWalter Mondale

Neutral

The 1984 Democratic nominee

Weak

The vice president under CarterThe 1984 challenger

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “mondale”

Reagan (in the context of the 1984 election)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “mondale”

  • Misspelling as 'Mondal', 'Mondail'. Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'He was a Mondale' meaning a liberal).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is exclusively a proper noun (a surname) with very low frequency.

No, it is only a proper noun. Any use as another part of speech would be highly non-standard, creative, or erroneous.

Dictionaries include notable proper nouns, especially those of significant historical figures, for reference purposes.

In documentaries, books, or discussions about late 20th-century American political history, particularly the 1984 presidential election.

A proper noun referring to Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale (1928–2021), the 42nd Vice President of the United States (1977–1981) and Democratic presidential nominee in 1984.

Mondale is usually formal, historical, political in register.

Mondale: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒn.deɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːn.deɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • [No established idioms]

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think 'Monday' + 'dale' (valley). 'Monday in the valley' – but it's just a surname.

Conceptual Metaphor

A proper name does not typically involve conceptual metaphor. It can serve as a METONYMY for 'a historic electoral defeat' (e.g., 'It was a Mondale-level loss').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
In the 1984 U.S. presidential election, the Democratic nominee was Walter .
Multiple Choice

Walter Mondale is best known for which of the following?

Practise

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Five interactive tools to remember words, train your ear, and build vocabulary in real context — drawn from this dictionary.

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