Harmony
noun /ˈhɑː.mə.ni/ — The pleasing combination of simultaneous notes; agreement and accord.
Definition
The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords having a pleasing effect. More broadly, agreement and accord between people, ideas, or things. Harmony is the quality of fitting together well — in music, in relationships, in the world.
Beyond the definition
Harmony is not the absence of difference — it is the presence of relationship. Different notes, different voices, different people — harmonising not because they are the same, but because their differences fit.
Origin & history
Greek: 'harmonia' (joining, agreement, concord). From 'harmos' (joint). Used by Pythagoras to describe the mathematical relationships between musical notes.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The choir's four-part harmony made the small church feel infinite.
They had reached a working harmony — not agreement on everything, but a way of coexisting without friction.
She could hear the harmony hidden inside the melody, the notes that would complete it.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Harmony” when the meaning fits your context: The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords having a pleasing effect. More broadly, agreement and accord between people, ideas, or things. Harmony is the quality of fitting together well — in music, in relationships, in the world.
Synonyms
accord, concord, consonance, agreement
Antonyms
discord, dissonance, conflict
Related words
Harmony vs consonance
Harmony is the overall simultaneous sounding of notes. Consonance specifically refers to the perceived pleasantness or stability of the resulting interval.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Building Interlocked Shared Structure
Three adults cooperate to assemble a bridge model using wooden pieces and a geometric diagram.
This scene illustrates harmony through the physical act of fitting distinct, independent components into one unified, stable structure, highlighting how cooperation leads to a pleasing and orderly result when disparate parts are integrated with mutual intention.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Harmony" mean?
Harmony is noun meaning: The pleasing combination of simultaneous notes; agreement and accord.. The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords having a pleasing effect. More broadly, agreement and accord between people, ideas, or things. Harmony is the quality of fitting together well — in music, in relationships, in the world.
Where does the word "Harmony" come from?
Greek: 'harmonia' (joining, agreement, concord). From 'harmos' (joint). Used by Pythagoras to describe the mathematical relationships between musical notes.