sonority

noun

so·​nor·​i·​ty sə-ˈnȯr-ə-tē 

-ˈnär-

plural sonorities

1

: the quality or state of being sonorous : resonance

2

: a sonorous tone or speech

3

phonetics : the perceptibility or distinctness of speech sounds when spoken in a context in which stress, pitch, and sound duration are constant

vowels possessing greater sonority than consonants

Examples of sonority in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Debussy’s otherworldly sonorities, drifting away from the tonal system, uncannily matched Maeterlinck’s Symbolist prose. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024

However, her playing in Ravel’s Left Hand Concerto was masterful, summoning ferocious sonorities in the bass register, flying to the top register and back with graceful agility. —Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024

Cecil can weave melodies into their rich, alto sonorities while simultaneously creating complementary harmonies that enhance the tapestry of their verse. —Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024

Frequently raucous and dense, textures would suddenly drop out, revealing unconventional sonorities such as cellists rapping on their instruments or the surprise ending with its tiny scratching and fluttering noises. —Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sonority

noun

so·​nor·​i·​ty sə-ˈnȯr-ət-ē 

-ˈnär-

plural sonorities

: the quality or state of being sonorous : resonance