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

Word History

Etymology

Greek polyphōnia variety of tones, from polyphōnos having many tones or voices, from poly- + phōnē voice — more at ban entry 1

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

polyphony

noun

po·​lyph·​o·​ny pə-ˈlif-ə-nē 

: music consisting of two or more independent but harmonious melodies

polyphonic

ˌpäl-i-ˈfän-ik

adjective