unison

1 of 2

noun

uni·​son ˈyü-nə-sən How to pronounce unison (audio)
-nə-zən
1
a
: identity in musical pitch
specifically : the interval of a perfect prime
b
: the state of being so tuned or sounded
c
: the writing, playing, or singing of parts in a musical passage at the same pitch or in octaves
2
: a harmonious agreement or union : concord

unison

2 of 2

adjective

1
: identical in musical pitch
unison singing
a unison passage
accompanied by unison strings
2
: producing pitches ordinarily associated with the keys played
one of the organ's unison stops
Phrases
in unison
1
: in perfect agreement : so as to harmonize exactly
a class reciting in unison
2
: at the same time : simultaneously

Did you know?

This word usually appears in the phrase "in unison", which means "together, at the same time" or "at the same musical pitch". So an excited crowd responding to a speaker may shout in unison, and a group of demonstrators may chant in unison. The old church music called Gregorian chant was written to be sung in unison, with no harmonizing voices, and kindergarten kids always sing in unison (at least when they can all find the same pitch). In a similar way, an aerobics class moves in unison following the instructor, and a group or even a whole town may work in unison when everyone agrees on a common goal.

Examples of unison in a Sentence

Noun the members of the committee are in unison on this point
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There are rounded backs and deep pliés, the kind that help a surfer get up on a board, as well as punchy unison moments that involve, repeatedly, pulled up knees with a backward lean and a hulking step forward. Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 On a recent morning, a new batch of customs police recruits marched by, nearly in unison. Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 While various clips show the girls separately rehearsing, one clip shows the entire girl group on a makeshift stage dancing and singing in unison — with Victoria (a.k.a. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson knows all about the importance of working in unison with teammates. Daniel Oyefusi, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2024 These clones work in unison, presenting a shaggy appearance and deploying a curtain of tentacles to capture a diverse range of prey, from crustaceans to small fish. Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Others joined in unison to call for an end to the war in Ukraine. Peter Suciu, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The noise inside the stadium on Saturday is testament to that work and the club is now moving in unison, with the only direction being up. Ben Church, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024 There were meaningful traditions begun — like the crowd’s singing of the national anthem in unison — and there were stars embraced. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unison.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English unisoun, from Middle French unisson, from Medieval Latin unisonus having the same sound, from Latin uni- + sonus sound — more at sound entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unison was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near unison

Cite this Entry

“Unison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unison. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unison

noun
uni·​son ˈyü-nə-sən How to pronounce unison (audio)
-zən
1
: sameness of musical pitch
2
: the condition of being tuned or sounded at the same pitch or at an octave
sing in unison rather than in harmony
3
: exact agreement : accord
all are in unison on the next move
Etymology

Noun

from early French unisson "having the same musical pitch," from Latin unisonus "having the same sound," from uni- "one" (from unus "one") and sonus "a sound" — related to sound entry 3, unite

More from Merriam-Webster on unison

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!