musicology

noun

mu·​si·​col·​o·​gy ˌmyü-zi-ˈkä-lə-jē How to pronounce musicology (audio)
: the study of music as a branch of knowledge or field of research as distinct from composition or performance
musicological adjective
musicologist noun

Examples of musicology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Choir School, hosted by the Trinity Episcopal Church, offers tuition-free training for Greater Hartford singers between the ages of eight and eighteen, and educates students about musicology and general life skills. Lara Langer and David Barrett, Hartford Courant, 23 July 2024 His bandmates were equally brainy: Mr. Gottlieb had a doctorate in musicology and Mr. Yarbrough once worked as a bouncer to pay for Greek lessons. Clay Risen, New York Times, 12 May 2024 Ted Albrecht, a professor emeritus of musicology at Kent State University in Ohio and author of a recent book on the Ninth Symphony, described the scene. Gina Kolata, New York Times, 6 May 2024 Schwartz considered studying musicology, but a professor, citing his then-rudimentary German, discouraged him. Jeffrey Arlo Brown, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for musicology 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'musicology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian musicologia, from Latin musica music + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of musicology was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near musicology

Cite this Entry

“Musicology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/musicology. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on musicology

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!