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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All of that messing around with sonorities, that urge to push both piano and hands to their technical limits using elegance rather than bombast, flows to Tao from Debussy. Justin Davidson, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2025 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 See all Example Sentences for sonority 

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 14 Feb. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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