polyphony
noun
po·lyph·o·ny
pə-ˈli-fə-nē 
: a style of musical composition employing two or more simultaneous but relatively independent melodic lines : counterpoint
Examples of polyphony in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Under cover of jokes and the expert polyphony of the overlapping dialogue, David Adjmi leads us to a story about the disaster of maleness, and thus of mating, behind the pop-rock revolution of the period.
—
Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2023
The book, the story of Seymour, an ambitious would-be filmmaker and a second-rate husband, explores different temporalities, creating a polyphony of the sweeping, legato past and the rhythmic present.
—Sam Thielman, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
Every new turn led to discoveries, capturing alternate angles of sculptures, inhaling the surprising scent of heirloom tomato leaves, observing the habits of donkeys, chickens, and sheep, and permitting myself to drift within a polyphony of chronotypes.
—Natasha Gural, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022
Over that electronic polyphony, accompanists on period instruments, including the theorbo (a long-necked lute), improvised sometimes plangent, sometimes dissonant improvisations.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for polyphony 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2023
The book, the story of Seymour, an ambitious would-be filmmaker and a second-rate husband, explores different temporalities, creating a polyphony of the sweeping, legato past and the rhythmic present.
—Sam Thielman, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023
Every new turn led to discoveries, capturing alternate angles of sculptures, inhaling the surprising scent of heirloom tomato leaves, observing the habits of donkeys, chickens, and sheep, and permitting myself to drift within a polyphony of chronotypes.
—Natasha Gural, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022
Over that electronic polyphony, accompanists on period instruments, including the theorbo (a long-necked lute), improvised sometimes plangent, sometimes dissonant improvisations.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for polyphony
Dictionary Entries Near polyphony
Cite this Entry
“Polyphony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polyphony. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
polyphony
noun
po·lyph·o·ny
pə-ˈlif-ə-nē
: music consisting of two or more independent but harmonious melodies
polyphonic
adjective
ˌpäl-i-ˈfän-ik
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share