counterpoint

American  

[koun-ter-point] / ˈkaʊn tərˌpɔɪnt /

noun

1. Music. the art of combining melodies.

2. Music. the texture resulting from the combining of individual melodic lines.

3. a melody composed to be combined with another melody.

4. Also called counterpoint rhythm.  Prosody. syncopation.

5. any element that is juxtaposed and contrasted with another.

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verb (used with object)

1. to emphasize or clarify by contrast or juxtaposition.

counterpoint British  

/ ˈkaʊntəˌpɔɪnt /

noun

1. the technique involving the simultaneous sounding of two or more parts or melodies

2. a melody or part combined with another melody or part See also descant

3. the musical texture resulting from the simultaneous sounding of two or more melodies or parts

4. the application of the rules of counterpoint as an academic exercise

5. a contrasting or interacting element, theme, or item; foil

6. prosody the use of a stress or stresses at variance with the regular metrical stress

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verb

1. (tr) to set in contrast

counterpoint Cultural  

1. The use of two or more melodies at the same time in a piece of music; it was an important part of baroque music. Certain composers, such as Johann Sebastian Bach, have been especially skillful at counterpoint.

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Etymology

Origin of counterpoint

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French contrepoint, translation of Medieval Latin ( cantus ) contrāpūnctus literally, (song) pointed or pricked against, referring to notes of an accompaniment written over or under the notes of a plainsong. See counter-, point

Example Sentences

This hesitancy is a counterpoint to the flood of money going into 529s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Long seen as a philosophical counterpoint to “2001,” the film turns isolation inward, where the danger isn’t running out of resources but being unable to escape yourself.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

As a counterpoint, Lanier had Goodrow detail the addition of features including viewing recommendations, auto-play for videos and ads, and a version of YouTube designed specifically for children.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

He tells BBC Newsbeat the darker themes of Wuthering Heights "felt like the perfect counterpoint and pivot away from Brat".

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

First, some examples of music that is not counterpoint.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones