homophonic

American  

[hom-uh-fon-ik, hoh-muh-] / ˌhɒm əˈfɒn ɪk, ˌhoʊ mə- /

adjective

1. having the same sound.

2. Music. having one part or melody predominating (opposed to polyphonic).

---

homophonic British  

/ ˌhɒməˈfɒnɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to homophony

2. of or relating to music in which the parts move together rather than independently

---

Other Word Forms

• homophonically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of homophonic

1875–80; < Greek homóphōn ( os ) ( see homophonous) + -ic

Explanation

Two words or names that sound the same are homophonic. For example, the words threw and through are homophonic. Surprisingly, the Irish surnames Maher, Marr, and Meagher are also homophonic when pronounced the Irish way — all three sound like mar! Homophonic has another meaning in music. It describes a piece that has a single main melody line, with or without accompaniment by other voices or instruments. This is in contrast to polyphonic music, which has more than one melody line of equal importance. Homophonic ultimately comes from the Greek roots homo-, meaning "the same," and phonos, "sound."

Example Sentences

The homophonic novels share other likenesses: Both center on estranged sisters, both are set against a backdrop of political unrest and both feature the unlikely appearance of a horse.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

So homophonic ciphers used multiple symbols interchangeably for high-frequency letters, Lasry says.

From Scientific American • Feb. 8, 2023

Enough to say that Locke’s homophonic title, “Gilt,” alludes both to the gold paint with which his sculptures are covered and to the politically instrumental uses and misuses of art over centuries.

From New York Times • Sep. 15, 2022

You can actually delineate quite easily — try “the original one” and “the lousy one,” for instance — but those homophonic titles are oddly fitting.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2021

Choral music in which the parts have mostly the same rhythms at the same time is homophonic.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones