harmonic

1 of 2

adjective

har·​mon·​ic här-ˈmä-nik How to pronounce harmonic (audio)
1
2
: of or relating to musical harmony or a harmonic
3
: pleasing to the ear : harmonious
4
: of an integrated nature : congruous
harmonically 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

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
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.
Adjective
The harmonic effort has earned the SNL alumna an Emmy nomination, alongside song co-writers Greenbaum and Sean Douglas. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2025 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
Noun
This is achieved with quantum harmonics played in headphones. Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025 The story of damped harmonic systems goes back to 1900, when British physicist Horace Lamb built a simple mathematical model of a particle vibrating inside a solid. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for harmonic

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of harmonic was in 1570

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Cite this Entry

“Harmonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harmonic. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

harmonic

1 of 2 adjective
har·​mon·​ic här-ˈmän-ik How to pronounce harmonic (audio)
: of or relating to musical harmony as opposed to melody or rhythm
harmonically adverb

harmonic

2 of 2 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on harmonic

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