sonority

noun

so·​nor·​i·​ty sə-ˈnȯr-ə-tē How to pronounce sonority (audio)
-ˈnär-
plural sonorities
1
: the quality or state of being sonorous : resonance
2
: a sonorous tone or speech
3
phonetics : the perceptibility or distinctness of speech sounds when spoken in a context in which stress, pitch, and sound duration are constant
vowels possessing greater sonority than consonants

Examples of sonority in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Debussy’s otherworldly sonorities, drifting away from the tonal system, uncannily matched Maeterlinck’s Symbolist prose. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024 However, her playing in Ravel’s Left Hand Concerto was masterful, summoning ferocious sonorities in the bass register, flying to the top register and back with graceful agility. Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024 Cecil can weave melodies into their rich, alto sonorities while simultaneously creating complementary harmonies that enhance the tapestry of their verse. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 Frequently raucous and dense, textures would suddenly drop out, revealing unconventional sonorities such as cellists rapping on their instruments or the surprise ending with its tiny scratching and fluttering noises. Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sonority 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sonority.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sonority was circa 1623

Dictionary Entries Near sonority

Cite this Entry

“Sonority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonority. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sonority

noun
so·​nor·​i·​ty sə-ˈnȯr-ət-ē How to pronounce sonority (audio)
-ˈnär-
plural sonorities
: the quality or state of being sonorous : resonance
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