A monomial is a polynomial with a single mathematical term. To clarify a polynomial would be 4x^3 + 3x^2 + 3 where as a monomial would be a single term such as 4x^3. The degree of a monomial is the sum of all exponents in the term. In this case the degree is 1+8+2=11. This is because the 2 also has the intrinsic exponent of 1.