harmony
B2Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A pleasing combination of elements in a whole; agreement in feeling, action, or sound.
In music, the combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions; in broader contexts, a state of peaceful coexistence and agreement.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun; can refer to both auditory/musical phenomena and abstract social/emotional states. The concept implies balance, compatibility, and absence of conflict.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use the word identically in spelling and core meaning.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with classical music and social cohesion in UK usage; in US, also frequently used in corporate/branding contexts (e.g., 'living in harmony').
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
in harmony withharmony betweenharmony ofbring into harmonyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in harmony”
- “strike a harmonious note”
- “sing in harmony”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe team cohesion or brand consistency, e.g., 'We need departmental harmony to meet targets.'
Academic
Common in musicology, sociology, and philosophy discussing social cohesion or aesthetic theory.
Everyday
Refers to peaceful relationships or pleasant combinations, e.g., 'The colours in this room are in harmony.'
Technical
In music theory, the study of chords and their progressions; in colour theory, pleasing colour combinations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The choir will harmonise the melody in the final verse.
- Their policies need to harmonise with EU regulations.
American English
- The band will harmonize the backing vocals.
- We must harmonize our schedules to meet the deadline.
adverb
British English
- The instruments played harmoniously throughout the piece.
- The couple lived harmoniously for decades.
American English
- The departments worked harmoniously to launch the product.
- The colours blended harmoniously on the canvas.
adjective
British English
- They have a harmonious working relationship.
- The garden design is beautifully harmonious.
American English
- The team maintained a harmonious atmosphere throughout the project.
- The colour scheme is very harmonious.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The family lives in harmony.
- I like the harmony of these colours.
- The two singers performed in perfect harmony.
- We must work in harmony to succeed.
- The treaty aimed to promote racial harmony in the region.
- The architect sought visual harmony between the old and new buildings.
- The complex chordal harmony in the jazz piece was masterfully executed.
- Philosophical discussions often explore the harmony between individual liberty and social responsibility.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HARP playing MONey? No – a HARP playing in MONey? No – a HARP and a MELODY together = HARMONY.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL AGREEMENT IS MUSICAL HARMONY (e.g., 'living in harmony', 'discordant opinions').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'гармония' when referring to a musical instrument (harmonica/гармошка).
- Do not overuse for simple 'agreement' (согласие) – harmony implies deeper, pleasing unity.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'harmony' as a verb (incorrect: 'They harmonied well'; correct: 'They were in harmony').
- Confusing 'harmony' (noun) with 'harmonious' (adjective).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'harmony' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its technical use is in music theory, it is widely used metaphorically for any pleasing agreement or combination (social, visual, etc.).
Melody is a sequence of single notes (the tune). Harmony is the combination of different notes played or sung simultaneously to support the melody.
No, 'harmony' is a noun. The related verb is 'harmonise' (UK) / 'harmonize' (US).
Discord, conflict, or strife.