1. a letter or symbol that represents more than one sound
Usage: linguistics
2. a musical instrument capable of producing multiple tones simultaneously
Usage: music

Examples

• The letter ‘c’ is a polyphone because it can sound like ‘k’ in ‘cat’ or ‘s’ in ‘city’.
• English has many polyphones that make spelling challenging for learners.
• The piano is a polyphone that allows musicians to play complex harmonies.
• Ancient polyphones included early keyboard instruments like the clavichord.
• Teachers often explain that ‘g’ is a polyphone with hard and soft sounds.
• The organ is considered one of the most versatile polyphones in classical music.