Polyphony
noun /pɒˈlɪf.ə.ni/ — Music with multiple simultaneous independent melodic lines.
Definition
Music consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody — as opposed to homophony, where accompanying parts move in parallel with a single melody. Bach's fugues are the apex of polyphonic composition.
Beyond the definition
Polyphony is the musical equivalent of multiple voices speaking at once and somehow making sense of each other. It mimics the way the world actually works: several things happening at once, each with its own logic.
Origin & history
From Greek 'polyphonia' (multiplicity of sounds); from 'poly-' (many) + 'phone' (sound, voice). Developed in medieval and Renaissance choral music.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Bach's fugues are masterclasses in polyphony — the same subject appearing in different voices, transformed, inverted, in conversation with itself.
Gregorian chant evolved into polyphony when a second voice began improvising a parallel line — the birth of Western harmony.
There was a polyphony to the city street that she loved — overlapping voices, each with its own direction.
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 “Polyphony” when the meaning fits your context: Music consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody — as opposed to homophony, where accompanying parts move in parallel with a single melody. Bach's fugues are the apex of polyphonic composition.
Synonyms
counterpoint, multi-voice
Antonyms
monophony, homophony, unison
Related words
Polyphony vs homophony
Polyphony involves multiple independent melodic lines happening at once. Homophony features a single dominant melody supported by subordinate chords or accompaniment.
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
Three People Constructing One Bridge
Three unnamed adults collaborate to build a model bridge, each contributing different pieces that interlock to form one supported, complex structure.
Polyphony is music with simultaneous independent melody lines. This scene represents the concept through individual contributions that interlock to create a supported, complex whole that transcends any single person's effort.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Polyphony" mean?
Polyphony is noun meaning: Music with multiple simultaneous independent melodic lines.. Music consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody — as opposed to homophony, where accompanying parts move in parallel with a single melody. Bach's fugues are the apex of polyphonic composition.
Where does the word "Polyphony" come from?
From Greek 'polyphonia' (multiplicity of sounds); from 'poly-' (many) + 'phone' (sound, voice). Developed in medieval and Renaissance choral music.