Phrase guide

cantus firmus

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈkæntəs ˈfɝməs/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkæntəs ˈfɜːməs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A preexisting melody forming the basis of a polyphonic composition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a melody used as the basis for a polyphonic composition

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: plainsong, plainchant, Gregorian chant

History

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin cantus firmus (literally “fixed chant”).