What does monochrome mean?
Monochrome means involving only one color or a single range of tones. In everyday visual usage, it most often means black-and-white, as in a monochrome photograph, print, or display. More broadly, it can refer to a design or artwork made from one hue and its variations, such as a monochrome image composed entirely of blues. The word is valued in art and photography because reducing an image to a limited palette can emphasize shape, light, texture, and mood rather than color alone. As a noun, a monochrome is the work or image itself. The term comes from Greek roots meaning “one” and “color,” and is closely related to monochromatic and polychrome, the latter meaning many-colored.
Consisting of a single color or shades of one color; especially black-and-white.
"The gallery displayed a series of monochrome photographs."
A work, image, or design made using a single color or shades of one color.
"The portrait is an elegant monochrome of the sitter against a dark background."
Used for distinct monochrome artworks or images.
"The museum acquired several monochromes by contemporary artists."
From Greek roots meaning “one” and “color,” monochrome literally means “one color”—the origin of a style that can be strikingly simple or deeply expressive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does monochrome come from?
Monochrome combines the Greek prefix mono-, meaning “one” or “single,” with khroma, meaning “color.” The word entered English in the early 19th century in contexts describing single-color painting and printing. Its relatives include polychrome, meaning “of many colors,” and chromatic, meaning “relating to color.”
Related word forms
How monochrome is actually used
The term is common in art, photography, printing, design, and digital media. In visual contexts, it often means black-and-white, though it can also refer to a single hue and its lighter or darker shades.