Origin: Greek prefix poly-
Polyphonic has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
of or relating to or characterized by polyphony
"polyphonic traditions of the baroque"
having two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding together
"The ancient choir performed a stunning polyphonic piece where each singer wove their own distinct melody into the rich, overlapping harmony."
of or relating to polyphony
"The composer praised the orchestra for its rich, polyphonic texture where multiple independent melodic lines wove together seamlessly."
In plain English: Polyphonic means having multiple different notes playing at the same time to create a rich sound.
"The old car stereo played polyphonic music with multiple instruments sounding at once."
Usage: Use "polyphonic" to describe music where multiple independent melodic lines sound simultaneously, rather than a single melody with accompaniment. It is commonly applied to instruments like the pipe organ or synthesizers that can produce several notes at once.
The word comes from the Ancient Greek polúphōnos, which literally means "many-sounding." It entered English with this same meaning to describe music that features multiple simultaneous melodic lines.