unison

[yoo-nuh-suhn, -zuhn]

noun

1. coincidence in pitch of two or more musical tones, voices, etc.

2. the musical interval of a perfect prime.

3. the performance of musical parts at the same pitch or at the octave.

4. a sounding together in octaves, especially of male and female voices or of higher and lower instruments of the same class.

5. a process in which all elements behave in the same way at the same time; simultaneous or synchronous parallel action.

   to march in unison.

UNISON

¹

/ ˈjuːnɪsən /

noun

1. (in Britain) a trade union representing local government, health care, and other workers: formed in 1993 by the amalgamation of COHSE, NALGO, and NUPE

unison

²

/ -zən, ˈjuːnɪsən /

noun

1. music

   1. the interval between two sounds of identical pitch

   2. (modifier) played or sung at the same pitch

      unison singing

2. complete agreement; harmony (esp in the phrase in unison )

unison

1. Playing or singing the same musical notes, or notes separated from each other by one or several octaves. Musicians who perform in unison are not playing or singing chords.

Other Word Forms

• nonunison noun
• unisonous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of unison¹

1565–75; < Medieval Latin ūnisonus of a single sound, equivalent to Latin ūni- uni- + sonus sound

Word History and Origins

Origin of unison¹

C16: from Late Latin ūnisonus, from _uni- + sonus sound

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in unison, in perfect accord; corresponding exactly.

   My feelings on the subject are in unison with yours.

Example Sentences

But the match will also have personal significance for two of Europe's most creative and in-form forwards, who come up against each other just 18 months after terrorising Premier League defences in unison.

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The audience reads in unison when their designated color appears.

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Our knees move in unison, bobbing up and down as we descend.

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During the 21-minute performance, the band opened with an excerpt from Bohemian Rhapsody, before transitioning into an accelerated rendition of Radio Ga Ga, as the audience clapped in unison with Mercury.

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That makes their rise in unison a bit unusual.

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