passing note

noun

: a nonharmonic tone interposed between essential harmonic tones of adjacent chords

called also passing tone

Word History

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of passing note was in 1730

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Passing note.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passing%20note. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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