Phrase guide

deceptive cadence

noun · 1 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

a falling cadence in which the ear expects a dominant chord to resolve to the tonic, but it resolves to something else (usually a submediant chord) instead.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: interrupted cadence

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: harhalopuke — falling cadence the dominant chord resolves to something other than the tonic (usually the submediant)
  • French: cadence rompue — falling cadence the dominant chord resolves to something other than the tonic (usually the submediant)
  • German: Trugschluss — falling cadence the dominant chord resolves to something other than the tonic (usually the submediant)
  • Italian: cadenza d'inganno — falling cadence the dominant chord resolves to something other than the tonic (usually the submediant)