sonority

noun

so·​nor·​i·​ty sə-ˈnȯr-ə-tē 

-ˈnär-

plural sonorities

1

: the quality or state of being sonorous : resonance

2

: a sonorous tone or speech

3

phonetics : the perceptibility or distinctness of speech sounds when spoken in a context in which stress, pitch, and sound duration are constant

vowels possessing greater sonority than consonants

Examples of sonority in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Each word and sentence feels vacuum-packed, enlisting our imaginative gear through all the senses; lines that often strike with a hymn’s sonority — building a quiet urgency. — Literary Hub, 26 Mar. 2026

That sonority, at once hazy and precise, soft and powerful, builds into an overwhelming wave of melody, carrying us nearly to midnight. — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026

His wizardry was displayed Sunday in fastidious massaging of volumes, sonorities and interplays, always with an undercurrent of urgency. — Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026

However, her playing in Ravel’s Left Hand Concerto was masterful, summoning ferocious sonorities in the bass register, flying to the top register and back with graceful agility. — Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sonority

• authority
• majority
• minority
• priority
• seniority
• sorority
• exteriority
• inferiority
• superiority

Kids Definition

sonority

noun

so·​nor·​i·​ty sə-ˈnȯr-ət-ē 

-ˈnär-

plural sonorities

: the quality or state of being sonorous : resonance