Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

perfect cadence

noun

Definition of perfect cadence 

: authentic cadence also : a musical cadence in which the tonic's (see tonic entry 2 sense 2) root appears in both the bass and soprano

— called also full cadence, full close

— compare imperfect cadence sense 2

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of perfect cadence

1636, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about perfect cadence

Share perfect cadence

Statistics for perfect cadence

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for perfect cadence

The first known use of perfect cadence was in 1636

See more words from the same year

Comments on perfect cadence

What made you want to look up perfect cadence? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

nidus

a nest or breeding place

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Late Autumn 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

  • frosted-autumn-leaves
  • Which is a synonym of yahoo?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games