harmony
HAH-muh-nee
Harmony (noun) means a state of peaceful agreement, cooperation, or balance. Example: “After the long argument, harmony returned to the office and everyone relaxed.”
noun
1
A state of peaceful agreement, cooperation, or balance.
"After the long argument, harmony returned to the office and everyone relaxed."
"The neighbours have lived in harmony for over twenty years."
"The design brings the garden into harmony with the house."
2
In music, two or more notes played together to make a pleasing chord, or the study of how chords work.
"The choir sang in four-part harmony, and the sound filled the whole church."
"The band added close vocal harmony to the final chorus."
"She studied harmony and counterpoint at music college."
How to use harmony
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThings fitting well together, whether that's people getting along or musical notes sounding good together.
Common pairings
live in harmony
perfect harmony
vocal harmony
sing in harmony
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Word forms
- Plural
- harmonies
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After the long argument, _____ returned to the office and everyone relaxed.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek harmonia ("joint, agreement, concord of sounds"), related to harmozo, "to fit together." Entered English through Old French and Latin.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for harmony
See all rhymes for harmony →Frequently asked questions
What does “harmony” mean?
The word “harmony” means a state of peaceful agreement, cooperation, or balance. In plain terms, things fitting well together, whether that's people getting along or musical notes sounding good together.
How do you pronounce “harmony”?
“Harmony” is pronounced HAH-muh-nee (/ˈhɑ̟ɹ.mə.ni/ in IPA).
How do you use “harmony” in a sentence?
Here is “harmony” used in a sentence: “The neighbours have lived in harmony for over twenty years.”
What part of speech is “harmony”?
“Harmony” is a noun.
Where does the word “harmony” come from?
The word “harmony” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek harmonia ("joint, agreement, concord of sounds"), related to harmozo, "to fit together." Entered English through Old French and Latin.
Is “harmony” a common word?
“Harmony” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “harmony” have?
“Harmony” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a state of peaceful agreement, cooperation, or balance.
What is the difference between harmony and melody in music?
A melody is a single line of notes played one after another, while harmony is two or more notes sounded together to support and enrich that melody. Melody is the tune you hum; harmony is the chords underneath it.
What is the difference between harmony and peace?
Peace generally means the absence of conflict or war, while harmony emphasizes active agreement, cooperation, and balance among people or parts. You can keep the peace by staying apart, but harmony implies things fitting well together.
Is harmony countable or uncountable?
In the sense of peaceful agreement or balance, harmony is usually uncountable, as in 'living in harmony.' In music it can be countable when referring to specific harmonies, such as 'the harmonies in that song.'
What words commonly go with harmony?
Common collocations include 'in harmony,' 'live in harmony,' 'perfect harmony,' 'social harmony,' and 'in harmony with.' In music you also hear 'close harmony' and 'four-part harmony.'
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