philharmonic

[ fil-hahr-mon-ik, fil-er- ]

adjective

1. fond of or devoted to music; music-loving: used especially in the name of certain musical societies that sponsor symphony orchestras Philharmonic Societies and hence applied to their concerts philharmonicconcerts.
2. of, noting, or presented by a symphony orchestra or the society sponsoring it.

noun

1. a symphony orchestra or the society sponsoring it.

philharmonic

/ ˌfɪlə-; ˌfɪlhɑːˈmɒnɪk /

adjective

1. fond of music
2. capital when part of a name denoting an orchestra, choir, society, etc, devoted to the performance, appreciation, and study of music

noun

1. capital when part of a name a specific philharmonic choir, orchestra, or society

Word History and Origins

Origin of philharmonic¹

1755–65; phil- + harmonic; modeled on French philharmonique or Italian filarmonico

Word History and Origins

Origin of philharmonic¹

C18: from French philharmonique, from Italian filarmonico music-loving; see philo- , harmony

Example Sentences

He moved to Yekaterinburg, then Kursk, and spent three years in Kurgan, a city to the east of the Ural mountains, before he lost his job at the philharmonic orchestra there in 2022.

From BBC

After 20 years, Walt Disney Concert Hall has changed Los Angeles and its philharmonic orchestra, but we now have to live up to Frank Gehry’s full, original vision.

From Los Angeles Times

The philharmonic will perform alongside high school musicians chosen in auditions.

From Seattle Times

People in Los Angeles are still memorializing a mountain lion, P-22, with T-shirts and a show commissioned by the philharmonic.

From New York Times

It has no face but a voice as wide-ranging as the philharmonic.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ensemble
• orchestra
• symphony
• troupe

Philharmonic Vs. Symphony Vs. Orchestra

What’s the difference between  a philharmonic, a symphony, and an orchestra?

Quiz yourself on philharmonic vs. symphony vs. orchestra!

Should philharmonic, symphony, or orchestra be used in the following sentence?

Mozart composed this _____ in 1786.