polyphonic
Americanadjective
-
consisting of many voices or sounds.
-
Music.
-
having two or more voices or parts, each with an independent melody, but all harmonizing; contrapuntal (opposed to homophonic).
-
pertaining to music of this kind.
-
capable of producing more than one tone at a time, as an organ or a harp.
-
-
Phonetics. having more than one phonetic value, as the letter s, that is voiced (z) in nose and unvoiced (s) in salt.
adjective
-
music composed of relatively independent melodic lines or parts; contrapuntal
-
many-voiced
-
phonetics of, relating to, or denoting a polyphone
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of polyphonic
Vocabulary lists containing polyphonic
Music - Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Music - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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 sophomore novel marked the arrival of an intuitive stylist gifted at polyphonic prose.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 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
Another, at Temple University in Philadelphia, will develop an online tool to transcribe early polyphonic music, which consists of multiple independent melodies that are played or sung at the same time, in standard musical notation.
From New York Times • Jan. 10, 2023
I just nod, in hopes that it appears I know what polyphonic means.
From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan
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.
