countertenor
Americannoun
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an adult male voice or voice part higher than the tenor.
-
a singer with such a voice; a high tenor.
noun
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an adult male voice with an alto range
-
a singer with such a voice
Etymology
Origin of countertenor
1350–1400; Middle English cownturenur, apparently < Anglo-French; compare Middle French contreteneur, Old Italian contratenore, equivalent to contra- contra- 2 ( def. ) + tenore tenor
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.
He looks androgenous in portraits, which led Glass to create the role for countertenor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026
Two sopranos and a countertenor depict a paradisiacal dream world of “fairies in the forest,” accompanied by an improvising violin.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025
It’s a good time to be a countertenor.
From New York Times ● Jun. 4, 2024
Anthony Roth Costanzo was hired Thursday as general director and president of Opera Philadelphia and will continue his career as a leading countertenor while taking over an ambitious company dealing with post-pandemic economic challenges.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 25, 2024
Instead, he’s publicly approved the more poisonous voices expressing their displeasure with López’s season, some of whom have a real incel countertenor in their tone.
From Salon ● Feb. 21, 2024
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.
