philharmonic
Americanadjective
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fond of or devoted to music; music-loving: used especially in the name of certain musical societies that sponsor symphony orchestras Philharmonic Societies and hence applied to their concerts philharmonicconcerts.
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of, noting, or presented by a symphony orchestra or the society sponsoring it.
noun
adjective
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fond of music
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(capital when part of a name) denoting an orchestra, choir, society, etc, devoted to the performance, appreciation, and study of music
noun
Usage
Quiz yourself on philharmonic vs. symphony vs. orchestra! Should philharmonic, symphony, or orchestra be used in the following sentence?Mozart composed this _____ in 1786.
Etymology
Origin of philharmonic
1755–65; phil- + harmonic; modeled on French philharmonique or Italian filarmonico
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.
The eyes turned towards her in Tehran's renowned Vahdat Hall include those of many young women musicians inspired by her taking her place as Iran's first woman philharmonic conductor.
From Barron's • Nov. 15, 2025
Oscar Tang, 85, has been part of the philharmonic board since 2013 and has been co-chairman with Peter W. May, since 2019.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 12, 2023
It has no face but a voice as wide-ranging as the philharmonic.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2022
“This is our front line,” he said, holding a lantern as he made his way around the darkened corridors of the stately 19th-century mansion that the philharmonic calls home.
From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2022
I pause to take a deep breath with my eyes closed, and I try to channel the way I felt the night of the philharmonic concert.
From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks
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.
