tonality

noun

to·​nal·​i·​ty tō-ˈna-lə-tē 

plural tonalities

1

: tonal quality

2

a

: key sense 5

b

: the organization of all the tones and harmonies of a piece of music in relation to a tonic

3

: the arrangement or interrelation of the tones of a work of visual art

Examples of tonality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Because for me, what makes R&B music R&B is the vocal tonality of it, the harmony choices. — Sidney Madden, VIBE.com, 19 Aug. 2026

For centuries most Western Classical music was based on tonality, a system in which melodies and harmonies revolve around a central key. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026

Cinematographer Julián Elizalde brings an artist’s eye to lighting and feels equally at home with the diverse tonalities registered in both digital and Super16mm. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

That clash of different tonalities and the uncertainty of getting it right became the show’s greatest throughline creative asset. — Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French tonalité, from tonal tonal + -ité -ity

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tonality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• legality

Kids Definition

tonality

noun

to·​nal·​i·​ty tō-ˈnal-ət-ē 

plural tonalities

: the character of a piece of music based on its key or on the relation of its tones and chords to a particular keynote