monohull: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Sailing / Nautical
Quick answer
What does “monohull” mean?
A boat or ship with a single hull.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A boat or ship with a single hull.
A vessel design type characterized by having one primary watertight body, as opposed to catamarans or trimarans which have multiple hulls.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Both varieties use the term identically in nautical contexts.
Connotations
Neutral technical descriptor. In sailing contexts, may connote traditional design versus modern, faster multihulls.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, used only in specific nautical, marine engineering, or recreational boating contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “monohull” in a Sentence
[determiner] + monohull + [noun][verb] + a/the + monohull[preposition] + a + monohullVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “monohull” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He prefers the handling of a monohull sailboat in heavy weather.
- The monohull class race starts at noon.
American English
- They bought a 40-foot monohull sloop.
- Monohull designs have evolved significantly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in boat sales, marine manufacturing, and yacht brokerage to specify vessel type.
Academic
Used in naval architecture, marine engineering, and design papers.
Everyday
Rare in general conversation. Used by sailing enthusiasts, boat owners, or in marina contexts.
Technical
The primary register. Precise term in ship design, sailing regatta rules, and boat specifications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “monohull”
- Misspelling as 'mono-hull' (hyphenated form is less common in modern usage).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to monohull').
- Confusing with 'monorail'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'monohull' is the standard technical and nautical term for a single-hull vessel.
Generally, catamarans are faster in many conditions due to less hull drag and greater width, but monohulls often perform better upwind and are preferred for certain types of racing and cruising.
No, 'monohull' is exclusively a noun or an attributive adjective (e.g., monohull design). It is not used as a verb.
The direct opposite is a 'multihull', which includes catamarans (two hulls) and trimarans (three hulls).
A boat or ship with a single hull.
Monohull is usually technical / sailing / nautical in register.
Monohull: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒnə(ʊ)hʌl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːnoʊˌhʌl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MONO means 'one' (like in monologue), and HULL is the body of a ship. So, a MONOhull has ONE hull.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SINGLE ENTITY (versus a twin or triple entity) for stability/speed trade-off.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of a monohull?