postlude: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical (Music/Religion)
Quick answer
What does “postlude” mean?
A concluding piece of music, especially one played at the end of a church service.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A concluding piece of music, especially one played at the end of a church service.
Any concluding event, section, or musical composition that serves as a counterpart to a prelude.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. The term is equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be encountered in formal religious or classical music contexts in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday language in both BrE and AmE. Slightly higher recognisability among musicians and churchgoers.
Grammar
How to Use “postlude” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] served as a fitting postlude to the [EVENT].She performed a [ADJECTIVE] postlude.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “postlude” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The organist will postlude with a fugue by Bach.
American English
- The musician postluded the ceremony with a soft improvisation.
adverb
British English
- [Rare/Not standard]
American English
- [Rare/Not standard]
adjective
British English
- [Rare/Not standard]
American English
- [Rare/Not standard]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, liturgical studies, or literary analysis (as a metaphor).
Everyday
Extremely rare; most native speakers would not use or recognise it.
Technical
Standard term in music (especially organ music) and some religious services for the concluding musical piece.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “postlude”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “postlude”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “postlude”
- Confusing it with 'postscript'.
- Using it to mean any simple ending instead of a structured, often artistic, conclusion.
- Misspelling as 'postlute'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term used primarily in musical and liturgical contexts.
A 'postlude' is almost exclusively musical (or used metaphorically as such), while an 'epilogue' is a literary or dramatic concluding section.
Yes, but it is extremely rare. It means to perform a concluding piece of music.
The direct opposite is 'prelude', which is a piece of music or event serving as an introduction.
A concluding piece of music, especially one played at the end of a church service.
Postlude is usually formal, technical (music/religion) in register.
Postlude: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpəʊst.luːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpoʊst.luːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None in common usage]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: POST = after, LUDE (as in 'prelude') = play. So, a postlude is an 'after-play'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONCLUSION IS A MUSICAL CLOSING
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'postlude' most appropriately used?