adjective
Uncommon
philharmonic
fihl-hah-MO-nihk
Philharmonic (adjective) means Devoted to or appreciative of music, especially orchestral music (used mainly in orchestra names). Example: “The philharmonic society raises funds to support young musicians.”
adjective
1
Devoted to or appreciative of music, especially orchestral music (used mainly in orchestra names).
"The philharmonic society raises funds to support young musicians."
noun
1
A full symphony orchestra, especially one named as such.
"We saw the New York Philharmonic perform Beethoven's Ninth."
How to use philharmonic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually seen as part of an orchestra's name, meaning a full symphony orchestra devoted to classical music.
Common pairings
the philharmonic orchestra
attend the philharmonic
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like philharmonic.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- philharmonics
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ society raises funds to support young musicians.
Etymology
From French philharmonique, from Italian filarmonico, literally combining "phil-" (loving) with "harmonic."
Synonyms
View more →
symphony
symphony orchestra
Related words
Rhymes for philharmonic
See all rhymes for philharmonic →Frequently asked questions
What does “philharmonic” mean?
The word “philharmonic” means devoted to or appreciative of music, especially orchestral music (used mainly in orchestra names). In plain terms, usually seen as part of an orchestra's name, meaning a full symphony orchestra devoted to classical music.
How do you pronounce “philharmonic”?
“Philharmonic” is pronounced fihl-hah-MO-nihk (/ˌfɪlərˈmɑnɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “philharmonic” in a sentence?
Here is “philharmonic” used in a sentence: “The philharmonic society raises funds to support young musicians.”
What part of speech is “philharmonic”?
Depending on how it is used, “philharmonic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “philharmonic” come from?
The word “philharmonic” comes from French. From French philharmonique, from Italian filarmonico, literally combining "phil-" (loving) with "harmonic.".
Is “philharmonic” a common word?
“Philharmonic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “philharmonic” have?
“Philharmonic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: devoted to or appreciative of music, especially orchestral music (used mainly in orchestra names).
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include philharmonic:
