atonality

[ ey-toh-nal-i-tee ]

nounMusic.
  1. the absence of key or tonal center.

  2. an atonal principle or style of composition.

Origin of atonality

1
First recorded in 1920–25; atonal + -ity

Words Nearby atonality

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use atonality in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for atonality

atonality

/ (ˌeɪtəʊˈnælɪtɪ, ˌæ-) /


noun
  1. absence of or disregard for an established musical key in a composition

  2. the principles of composition embodying this and providing a radical alternative to the diatonic system

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