har·mon·ic
här-ˈmä-nik 
1
: musical
2
: of or relating to musical harmony or a harmonic
3
: pleasing to the ear : harmonious
4
: of an integrated nature : congruous
1
a
: overtone
especially
: one whose vibration frequency is an integral multiple of that of the fundamental
b
: a flutelike tone produced on a stringed instrument by touching a vibrating string at a nodal point
2
: a component frequency of a complex wave (as of electromagnetic energy) that is an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency
Synonyms
Examples of harmonic in a Sentence
Adjective
the desire to live the kind of harmonic life in which work and family are perfectly balanced
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Nine decades later, the French astronomer and mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace suggested that the tides could be represented as harmonic oscillations.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2024
Adam Bradley D’angelo Lovell Williams Milton David Dixon Iii, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Resonant, pure and fluid, Isbell’s deceivingly simple playing often gave the impression more than one guitar was responsible for the detailed lines, radiant harmonics and brilliant textures.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for harmonic 
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Adjective
They are imaginatively crafted, showing particular invention in their harmonic writing.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Nine decades later, the French astronomer and mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace suggested that the tides could be represented as harmonic oscillations.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2024
Noun
That kind of singing demands technique: range, projection, breath control, harmonics.
—Adam Bradley D’angelo Lovell Williams Milton David Dixon Iii, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Resonant, pure and fluid, Isbell’s deceivingly simple playing often gave the impression more than one guitar was responsible for the detailed lines, radiant harmonics and brilliant textures.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for harmonic
Dictionary Entries Near harmonic
Cite this Entry
“Harmonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harmonic. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
harmonic
1 of 2 adjective
har·mon·ic
här-ˈmän-ik
: of or relating to musical harmony as opposed to melody or rhythm
harmonic
2 of 2 nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
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