atonal

adjective

aton·​al (ˌ)ā-ˈtō-nᵊl 

(ˌ)a-

: marked by avoidance of traditional musical tonality

especially : organized without reference to key or tonal center and using the tones of the chromatic scale impartially

atonalism

(ˌ)ā-ˈtō-nə-ˌli-zəm 

(ˌ)a-

noun

atonalist

(ˌ)ā-ˈtō-nə-list 

(ˌ)a-

noun

atonality

ˌā-tō-ˈna-lə-tē 

ˌa-

noun

atonally

(ˌ)ā-ˈtō-nə-lē 

(ˌ)a-

adverb

Examples of atonal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, the entire film can't decide whether to embrace the silly or the serious — and yet somehow, that atonal balance works. —Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025

With Stires’s guidance, Anastasio began writing atonal fugues. —Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

Gradually, the music mutates into something more alien: off-key chiming of a clock, percussive piano clanking and plucking, atonal saxophone solos that sound as if an instrument is being dropped. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025

Right from the start, there’s a neo-noir like feel to Gerster’s suspenseful portrait, accentuated by its atonal and slightly disconcerting score. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 2 + tonal

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for atonal

• coronal
• hormonal
• umbonal
• veronal
• clonal
• sonal
• tonal
• zonal
• monoclonal
• polyclonal

Kids Definition

atonal

adjective

aton·​al (ˈ)ā-ˈtōn-əl 

(ˈ)a-

: being music written without traditional organization based on a scale

atonality

ˌā-tō-ˈnal-ət-ē 

noun

atonally

(ˈ)ā-ˈtōn-ə-lē 

(ˈ)a-

adverb