# Harmony

/ˈhɑɹməni/ (US) · /hˈɑːməni/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/harmony
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. social agreement

noun · CEFR B2

a situation where people live or work together in a friendly way without fighting.

For teachers: a state of agreement or concord between people, groups, or nations.

- The two communities have lived in harmony for many decades.
- The diplomatic mission was designed to restore harmony between the two warring factions after years of border disputes.

### 2. pleasing combination

noun · CEFR B2

a quality where different parts of something fit together in a beautiful or balanced way.

For teachers: the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole through the balanced arrangement of elements.

- The modern furniture was in perfect harmony with the old house.
- The architect sought a visual harmony between the glass skyscraper and the surrounding historical stone buildings.

### 3. musical notes

noun · CEFR B2

the sound of two or more musical notes played at the same time.

For teachers: the simultaneous combination of notes and the resulting relationship between them.

- The singer added a beautiful harmony to the main melody of the song.
- The composer utilised complex jazz harmonies that challenged the traditional expectations of the orchestral audience.

### 4. study of chords

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the study of how musical chords are built and how they follow each other.

For teachers: the academic and theoretical study of the structure, progression, and relation of chords.

- She is taking a class to learn the rules of classical harmony.
- Advanced students of harmony must master the intricate rules of four-part writing and voice leading.

### 5. Harry/Hermione pairing

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal

a name used by fans for the romantic pairing of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.

For teachers: a portmanteau or collective name used within fan communities to denote the romantic pairing of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.

- Some fans prefer the idea of harmony over the actual couples in the books.
- Online forums dedicated to harmony often feature extensive fan fiction reimagining the series with a different romantic conclusion.

## Examples

- The singers perform in perfect harmony.
- The community worked hard to ensure that different ethnic groups lived together in harmony and mutual respect.
- While the melody remains simple, the complex vocal harmony adds a layer of emotional depth that defines the entire composition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.