unison
YOO-nih-suhn
/ˈjuː.nɪ.sən/
Simultaneous performance of action or utterance of speech; perfect agreement.
Unison means doing the exact same thing at the exact same moment. It is about identical action, not just complementary action.
The story behind the word. From Late Latin 'unisonus', meaning 'having the same sound'. It combines Latin 'unus' (one) and 'sonus' (sound), originally describing choir members singing the exact same pitch at the exact same time.
Word relationships
- harmony: Harmony involves different notes or actions that sound good together, while unison requires the exact same note or action.
- accord: Accord is a state of agreement in opinion, while unison is the physical, simultaneous expression of that agreement.
- discord: Discord is a lack of agreement or harmony, resulting in chaotic, clashing actions.
- cacophony: Cacophony is a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds, the opposite of unison.
Commonly confused with
- union: A union is an organization or state of being joined, while unison is the simultaneous performance of an action.
Word family
- unisonous (adjective): Being in unison; agreeing in sound.
Collocations
- in unison
- chant in unison
- act in unison
- perfect unison
Idioms & expressions
- in unison
Example sentences
- "The soldiers marched in perfect unison, their boots hitting the ground at the exact same moment." Military parade.
- "The crowd chanted in unison, demanding immediate action from the government." A public protest.
Memory hook
'Uni' (one) + 'son' (sound). Multiple voices or instruments joining together to make a single, unified sound. One sound, one movement.
When not to use
Do not use unison if two people are doing different tasks to help each other. If one cooks and the other washes dishes, they are cooperating, not acting in unison.
Fun facts
- In classical music, when an entire orchestra plays the same melody together without harmony, it is called playing 'all'unisono'.
Explore more words
Synchronous, simultaneous, concurrence, concur, unite, alignment
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