Dictionary

monokini en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /mɑ.noʊˈki.ni/ (US)
• (US) audio
• /mɒnə(ʊ)ˈkiːni/ (UK)

Etymology

Borrowed from French monokini or simply mono- + -kini, punningly reinterpreting the first syllable of "bikini" as the prefix bi-.

Meanings

1. The lower part of a bikini without the upper part (i.e., topless).
   • In fact, the San Francisco Chronicle featured a photo of a woman in a monokini — her exposed breasts clearly visible — on its front page. 2016, David Allyn, Make Love, Not War: The Sexual Revolution: An Unfettered History, →ISBN:
   • All this so impressed the Appellate Court in Aix-en-Provence that it reversed the convictions. "Inasmuch as the spectacle of the nudity of the human body has nothing intrinsic in it that would outrage normal, even delicate decency, and since Claudine Durand concealed her sexual parts with a sufficiently opaque monokini, we acquit her." 1965 March 12, “Topless Triumph”, in Time:
   • French academics and historians have spent the early summer months pondering the sociological meaning of the demise of France's once-favourite piece of beachwear, the "monokini" – the bottom half of a bikini with no top. 2009 July 22, Angelique Crisafis, “France Falls Out of Love with Topless Sunbathing”, in The Guardian:
2. A one-piece swimsuit, which may cover both the chest and the crotch (as contrasted with a bikini, which consists of two pieces).
   • [Psylocke is] wearing a mix between a monokini and cut-out swimwear, a wardrobe change[.] 2014, Joseph J. Darowski, The Ages of the X-Men: Essays on the Children of the Atom, →ISBN:
   • “Calvin, you know you can't stay.” “I know. I was kicked out. Just because, one time, I hired a Borat impersonator to come to a meeting and strip down to his monokini. Sorry for wanting to bring a little joy to the OABA.” “He kept saying everything was "wah-wah-wee-wah" and "very nice." It was disruptive. Out.” “Well then, so long, Ocean Avenue "Busy-body Ass-ociation."” “That's a better name.” 2026 May 17, Dan Fybel, “Smellbound” (4:25 from the start), in Bob's Burgers, season 16, episode 15, spoken by Calvin Fischoeder (Kevin Kline):

Forms

Coordinates

bikini

Deriveds

monokinied

Relateds

one-piece · bikini · facekini · trikini

Translations (12)

sv monokini (bikini worn without the upper part) · nl monokini (bikini worn without the upper part) · fr monokini (bikini worn without the upper part) · ja モノキニ (bikini worn without the upper part) · pt monoquíni (bikini worn without the upper part) · pl monokini (bikini worn without the upper part) · de Monokini (bikini worn without the upper part) · ko 모노키니 (bikini worn without the upper part) · es monoquini (bikini worn without the upper part) · it monokini (bikini worn without the upper part) · fi monokini (bikini worn without the upper part) · hu monokini (bikini worn without the upper part)