polyphonic

American  

[pol-ee-fon-ik] / ˌpɒl iˈfɒn ɪk /

adjective

1. consisting of many voices or sounds.

2. Music.

   1. having two or more voices or parts, each with an independent melody, but all harmonizing; contrapuntal (opposed to homophonic).

   2. pertaining to music of this kind.

   3. capable of producing more than one tone at a time, as an organ or a harp.

3. Phonetics. having more than one phonetic value, as the letter s, that is voiced (z) in nose and unvoiced (s) in salt.

---

polyphonic British  

/ ˌpɒlɪˈfɒnɪk /

adjective

1. music composed of relatively independent melodic lines or parts; contrapuntal

2. many-voiced

3. phonetics of, relating to, or denoting a polyphone

---

Other Word Forms

• polyphonically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of polyphonic

First recorded in 1775–85; polyphone + -ic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

polyphonic

Beyond this solemn, reverent prologue, the show opens into expansive galleries, richly packed and drawing viewers deeper into Noguchi’s polyphonic universe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

The film moves between the two in a sweeping, polyphonic narrative blending performances by professional and amateur actors, portraying a multifaceted Franco-African community refreshingly free from stereotypes.

From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026

If you listen to the scene in its original language, it's a polyphonic effect.

From Salon ● Apr. 28, 2023

But while keeping the hushed dynamics steady, Lim bent individual string lines away from the expected polyphonic patterns.

From New York Times ● Sep. 30, 2022

The music that is made up of counterpoint can also be called polyphony, or one can say that the music is polyphonic or speak of the polyphonic texture of the music.

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