harmonic

1 of 2

adjective

har·​mon·​ic här-ˈmä-nik 

1

: musical

2

: of or relating to musical harmony or a harmonic

3

: pleasing to the ear : harmonious

4

: of an integrated nature : congruous

harmonically

här-ˈmä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

harmonic

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: overtone

especially : one whose vibration frequency is an integral multiple of that of the fundamental

b

: a flutelike tone produced on a stringed instrument by touching a vibrating string at a nodal point

2

: a component frequency of a complex wave (as of electromagnetic energy) that is an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency

Synonyms

Adjective

• symmetric
• symmetrical
• balanced
• elegant

Examples of harmonic in a Sentence

Adjective

the desire to live the kind of harmonic life in which work and family are perfectly balanced

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

His own timbre of a voice mixes well with his multiple harmonic partners and the various goofy turns he is tasked with implementing. —David John Chávez, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025

Offerings range from massages and facials to sound meditation, a restorative practice that uses harmonic frequencies to quiet the mind and support nervous system regulation. —Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025

Noun

Bryce Dessner’s recent Violin Concerto was dominated by soloist Pekka Kuusisto’s vivid bowing, creating astonishing acoustical effects with harmonics. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025

Total harmonic distortion: <0,3% (1kHz / 100dB SPL). —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing harmonic

• harmonic analysis
• harmonic mean
• harmonic motion
• harmonic progression
• harmonic series

Rhymes for harmonic

• atonic
• benthonic
• bionic
• bosonic
• bubonic
• canonic
• carbonic
• cyclonic
• demonic
• dystonic
• hadronic
• hedonic

Kids Definition

harmonic

1 of 2 adjective

har·​mon·​ic här-ˈmän-ik 

: of or relating to musical harmony as opposed to melody or rhythm

harmonically

-ˈmän-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

harmonic

2 of 2 noun

: overtone sense 1