sonority

noun so·nor·i·ty \ sə-ˈnȯr-ə-tē , -ˈnär- \

|Updated on: 20 Jul 2018

Definition of sonority

plural sonorities

1 : the quality or state of being sonorous : resonance

2 : a sonorous tone or speech

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Recent Examples of sonority from the Web

There’s one singer, Clinton Curtis; many vocal lines are given to the theremin (played by Rob Schimmer), not a Beatles instrument but one whose weird sonority adds its own layer of drama.

— alastair macaulay, New York Times, "Review: Mark Morris’s Lonely Hearts Club Band," 22 June 2018
Which is a big difference both in power and quality of sonority.

— alan artner, chicagotribune.com, "In the heat, Moser, Grant Park Orchestra perform a delicate Dvorak," 30 June 2018
The Memorial for Peace and Justice presents this drama of intimidation with minimum documentation and detail and maximum sonority.

— New York Times, "A Memorial to the Lingering Horror of Lynching," 1 June 2018
Her arresting wall-of-sound sonority is used more sparingly.

— david patrick stearns, Philly.com, "Philadelphia Orchestra and Helene Grimaud gives a preview of the upcoming Israel tour," 11 May 2018
Muti shaped a flowing performance, although more resonant stage sonics would have better served the lush string sonorities.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Review: John Malkovich's wan narration disappoints in CSO reading of 'Lincoln Portrait'," 13 Apr. 2018
Not so in soloist Paul Jacobs’ magisterial playing of the organ part, which built to a thrilling roar of low pedal sonority in the final pages that must have set off every seismograph in the state.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Violinist Faust, in a brilliant CSO debut, makes convincing case for flawed Schumann rarity," 12 May 2018
Blocks of sound battle it out through shifting sonorities, punctuated by sharp attacks on drums and cymbals.

— stuart isacoff, WSJ, "Exploring the New World With New Sounds," 20 Apr. 2018
But the murky sounds and tense sonorities that Ms. Thorvaldsdottir creates are at once eerie and beguiling.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "Review: An Orchestral Odyssey Through Chaos and Beauty," 5 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sonority.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of sonority

circa 1623

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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