monthly
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
Occurring, done, or produced once every month.
Relating to a period of one month; a publication issued once a month; a menstrual period (informal).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective and adverb. As a noun, it most commonly refers to a magazine or periodical. The informal noun sense relating to menstruation is considered casual.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. The informal noun sense for 'menstruation' is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. In business contexts, implies regular, scheduled events or payments.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, especially in administrative, financial, and media contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
paid monthlyissued monthlymeets monthlypublished monthlydue monthlyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the curse (monthly)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to recurring financial obligations, reports, or scheduled meetings (e.g., 'monthly sales targets').
Academic
Used for publication frequency or data collection periods (e.g., 'monthly observations').
Everyday
Common for bills, salaries, magazine subscriptions, and informal references to menstruation.
Technical
In finance for compounding interest; in medicine for menstrual cycles.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The committee monthlies on the first Tuesday.
- The magazine is monthlied by a small press.
American English
- The team monthlies to discuss progress.
- The report is monthlied to all stakeholders.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I get my pocket money monthly.
- We have a monthly test in our English class.
- The magazine is published monthly and costs £3.50.
- My monthly train pass saves me a lot of money.
- The board requires a detailed monthly financial report.
- Payments are made in twelve equal monthly instalments.
- The committee convenes monthly to oversee the project's trajectory.
- Fluctuations in the monthly consumer price index are closely monitored by economists.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a calendar: a MONTH has about thirty days, and MONTHLY events happen every time you turn the page to a new month.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CYCLE (a repeating, measurable unit).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'месячный' for 'monthly salary' – use 'ежемесячная зарплата'.
- Do not confuse with 'monthly' as an adverb and 'per month' – 'He earns £2000 monthly' is correct but less common than '£2000 per month'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'monthly' as a noun for 'month' (e.g., 'I'll see you next monthly' – incorrect).
- Overusing the adverbial form where 'every month' is more natural in speech.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'monthly' as a noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most frequently used as an adjective (e.g., a monthly meeting). The adverbial use (e.g., We meet monthly) is also very common.
Rarely and informally. The verb 'to monthly' (meaning to do something monthly or to publish monthly) is non-standard and not found in formal writing.
They are often interchangeable, but 'every month' is more common in spoken English for emphasis or clarity. 'Monthly' is more concise and preferred in formal or compound contexts (e.g., monthly statement).
Pronounce it as /ˈmʌnθ.li/. Be sure to clearly articulate the 'th' sound (/θ/) and avoid saying 'monly'.