Phrase guide

diminished fifth

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 type of tritone in musical composition formed by narrowing a perfect fifth by one chromatic semitones. In twelve-tone equal temperament, it spans five diatonic scale degrees like a perfect fifth but narrower by a semitone. The number of diatonic degrees it spans is what distinguishes it from an augmented fourth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

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Examples

  • C - G is a perfect fifth, C - G♭ is a diminished fifth, and C - G# is an augmented fifth.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flatted fifth

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.