What does multivoiced mean?
Multivoiced is an adjective for something that contains or expresses more than one voice. It is especially useful in discussions of literature, music, film, and public culture, where different speakers, narrators, musical lines, or perspectives contribute to the whole. A multivoiced novel, for example, may allow several characters to shape its narrative rather than presenting one unquestioning viewpoint. The term can also describe a chorus producing more than one distinguishable vocal line. It is related to multivocal and polyphonic, but its frequent metaphorical use emphasizes plurality and variety. In critical writing, multivoiced can imply a deliberate balance among different voices, though it does not necessarily mean that those voices agree. The word is more common in formal cultural commentary than in everyday speech.
adjectiveHaving more than one voice or expressing multiple perspectives, viewpoints, or modes of sound. In literary and cultural contexts, it describes works or groups that incorporate a range of distinct voices.
- Having more than one voice.
- Representing or expressing a range of distinct viewpoints, voices, or perspectives.
"The novel's multivoiced structure moves between the memories of several different characters."
"The composer wrote a multivoiced piece for the chamber ensemble."
"Her multivoiced documentary combines testimony from people with sharply different experiences."
Multivoiced captures the idea that a story, chorus, or community can speak with many voices at once, without reducing them to one dominant perspective.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does multivoiced come from?
Multivoiced combines the Latin-derived prefix multi- with voiced, a word based on the Latin vox, meaning voice or sound. The prefix multi- comes from Latin multus, meaning many, while voiced itself developed in English in reference to sounds produced with vocal-cord vibration and later to writing that gives voice to opinions. The compound therefore literally describes something with many voices, and its figurative use for multiple perspectives developed from that musical and vocal sense.
Related word forms
How multivoiced is actually used
Most common in literary, artistic, and cultural criticism. It can suggest that several voices coexist rather than that they necessarily agree; register is generally formal and descriptive.
Easily confused with multivoiced
Multivoiced is an adjective describing something that has or expresses multiple voices, whereas multivocal is also an adjective and is often used to emphasize the production of several distinct sounds or voices.