Modulation
noun /ˌmɒdjʊˈleɪʃən/ — Variation in tone or pitch — and the skilled adjustment of anything for best effect.
Definition
The exerting of a modifying or controlling influence on something; the variation of the strength, tone, or pitch of one's voice; (music) a change from one key to another.
Beyond the definition
Modulation is control in service of effect — the voice that modulates is one that adjusts its register to the moment. The skilled speaker doesn't stay at one pitch or pace; they modulate as a musician does, finding the key that serves the phrase.
Origin & history
From Latin modulari — to measure, to regulate (from modulus: a small measure, from modus: measure, manner). The measurement and regulation — modulation as the skilled management of what can be varied.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The modulation in her voice — from confidence to uncertainty and back — told the room where she actually stood.
Good prose has modulation: long sentences followed by short ones; high register yielding to plain.
The modulation of authority: when to press, when to release, when to let silence do the work.
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 “Modulation” when the meaning fits your context: The exerting of a modifying or controlling influence on something; the variation of the strength, tone, or pitch of one's voice; (music) a change from one key to another.
Synonyms
variation, adjustment, inflection, tonal change
Antonyms
monotony, uniformity, flatness
Related words
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
Orchestral Conductor's Intense Control
A conductor stands in the middle of an orchestra, their body in an expansive, intense gesture as the music reaches a peak.
The conductor's expansive, dramatic gestures show modulation, as they control the strength, tone, and influence of the sound produced. The scene represents the act of exerting a modifying influence, changing the music's dynamics to achieve an expressive peak.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Modulation" mean?
Modulation is noun meaning: Variation in tone or pitch — and the skilled adjustment of anything for best effect.. The exerting of a modifying or controlling influence on something; the variation of the strength, tone, or pitch of one's voice; (music) a change from one key to another.
Where does the word "Modulation" come from?
From Latin modulari — to measure, to regulate (from modulus: a small measure, from modus: measure, manner). The measurement and regulation — modulation as the skilled management of what can be varied.