What does overtone mean?
An overtone is a secondary sound or meaning. In music, it is a frequency that accompanies a note's fundamental pitch, contributing to the note's distinctive timbre; for example, the combination of such frequencies helps give a flute and a violin different tonal characters. In everyday figurative use, an overtone is a subtle implication, emotional attitude, or secondary meaning conveyed beneath the main content of speech or writing. Someone's remarks may carry an overtone of irony, suspicion, warmth, or hostility even when no explicit accusation or sentiment is made. The word is especially common in discussion of literature, conversation, criticism, and interpersonal tension. It is more literary and indirect than words such as “implication” or “suggestion,” and its use signals attention to an understated emotional or interpretive layer. Its musical origin also makes it a vivid metaphor for the quieter resonances that accompany both sound and language.
A musical frequency accompanying and higher than the fundamental frequency of a sound, or a secondary frequency component of a complex tone.
"The physicist identified an overtone in the note produced by the glass."
This is the technical musical sense and is most often used by musicians, acousticians, and physicists.
A subtle or secondary implication, emotional quality, or meaning conveyed by speech, writing, or behaviour.
"His reply carried an overtone of disappointment."
Common in formal and literary contexts; it usually denotes something implied rather than directly stated.
The plural is overtones, referring either to additional musical frequency components or to multiple secondary implications.
"The exchange was marked by subtle overtones of distrust."
An overtone is literally a higher musical frequency—and figuratively the hidden emotional note beneath a conversation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of overtone
Overtone was formed in the 19th century from the prefix over- and the word tone, in analogy with musical terminology for frequencies above a fundamental pitch. Its figurative sense developed from the idea of an additional or accompanying tone, parallel to the related noun undertone. The element tone ultimately comes through French from Latin tonus, a measure or musical pitch.
Related word forms
How overtone is actually used
In music, the term is technical and refers to a component of a complex sound. In general use, it is formal or literary and usually suggests an implication that is not stated directly.
Easily confused with overtone
An overtone is a secondary meaning or accompanying musical frequency, whereas overt means done openly or in public.