Full monty means: Nudity.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
full monty
(British, colloquial) Nudity.
ˈfʊl ˈmɔntiDocumented since 1980s1980sGen Xhistorical200 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~1980 · no dated citations yetGen X eraSee decade cohort →
Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK
(British, colloquial) Nudity.
For parents
Full monty means: Nudity.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
full monty means: Nudity.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK
(British, colloquial, countable) Everything; the whole package.
I thought he was only going to buy the basic kit, but he bought the full monty.
Origin: . First appeared in print in 1980s, but probably existed before that. The most common theory for its origin is that a purchase (especially that of a full three-piece suit) from Montague Maurice Burton (1885–1952), founder of Burton Menswear, was known as a "full Monty". According to the OED, this etymology is "perhaps the most plausible". The nudity definition comes via the movie The Full Monty, in which it is used as a euphemism for removing all one's clothes when stripping. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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UK
#3·Apr 27, 2026UK
(British, colloquial) Nude.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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UK
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Other words near "full monty" (F)
full as a bootfull as a googfull barfull bathroomfull-bloodfull-fledgedfull of piss and vinegarfull-of-shitnessfull pintfull pointfull screwfull send
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