atonality

American  

[ey-toh-nal-i-tee] / ˌeɪ toʊˈnæl ɪ ti /

noun

Music.

1. the absence of key or tonal center.

2. an atonal principle or style of composition.

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atonality British  

/ ˌæ-, ˌeɪtəʊˈnælɪtɪ /

noun

1. absence of or disregard for an established musical key in a composition

2. the principles of composition embodying this and providing a radical alternative to the diatonic system

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Etymology

Origin of atonality

First recorded in 1920–25; atonal + -ity