What does homophonic mean?
Homophonic is an adjective meaning “having the same sound.” It is most often used to describe words or phrases that are pronounced alike despite being spelled differently or expressing different ideas, such as “pair,” “pare,” and “pear” in many English accents. The word can also describe music: a homophonic texture has one principal melody with chords or other parts supporting it, rather than several independent melodies of the kind found in polyphonic music. As a result, homophonic is useful wherever the relationship between sound and spelling is important, including pronunciation instruction, language study, linguistics, and music analysis. The related noun homophone names a word with the same pronunciation as another, while homophony names the broader phenomenon of sameness of sound.
adjectiveHaving the same pronunciation or sound, especially when the words are spelled differently and may have different meanings. In music, homophonic describes a texture in which one main melody is accompanied by chords or other supporting parts.
- Having the same sound or pronunciation as another word, sound, or group of words.
- Of or relating to music in which one dominant melody is supported by chords or other accompanying parts.
"The two words are homophonic, even though one is spelled with a double “l” and the other with a single “l.”"
"“There” and “their” are homophonic words in many accents, including standard British and American English."
"The choir performed the piece in a clear homophonic style, with one melody supported by sustained harmonies."
Homophonic words let spelling change without changing the sound, which is why they remain among the most memorable challenges in language.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does homophonic come from?
Homophonic comes from Greek homo-, meaning “same,” and phōnē, meaning “sound,” together with the English suffix -ic. The related noun homophone was formed from the same elements and refers to a word with the same pronunciation as another. The idea has ancient linguistic parallels, including Greek homophōnos, “same-sounding,” while the musical sense developed later through the comparison between music and language.
Related word forms
How homophonic is actually used
In general usage, the term is especially associated with words that sound alike but differ in spelling and meaning. In music theory, it is used as a contrast to polyphonic texture and does not necessarily imply that the accompanying parts are identical in rhythm or sound.
Easily confused with homophonic
A homophone is a word or sound that sounds like another word or sound, whereas homophonic is an adjective describing that same-sound relationship.