polyphony
Americannoun
-
Music. polyphonic composition; counterpoint.
-
Phonetics. representation of different sounds by the same letter or symbol.
noun
-
polyphonic style of composition or a piece of music utilizing it
-
the use of polyphones in a writing system
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of polyphony
First recorded in 1820–30, polyphony is from the Greek word polyphōnía variety of tones. See poly-, -phony
Vocabulary lists containing polyphony
Common Senses: Phon ("Sound")
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Music - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Music - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital should be proud.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 23, 2023
On Sept. 18, New York Polyphony stages an afternoon musical “installation” in the museum’s lush courtyard devoted to music composed for England’s first queen, Mary I. On Oct.
From Washington Post • Sep. 9, 2022
It’s unclear if Polyphony will be making changes to the credit payouts in response to fan outcry.
From The Verge • Mar. 17, 2022
As Microsoft Flight Simulator to the flight sim genre, so Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo series to hi-fi motorsport hot-rodding.
From Time • Aug. 23, 2016
Polyphony is a word that refers to multiple independent lines of music sung at the same time.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
