Standard Lemma guide

polyrhythm

noun · 3 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.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Music with multiple rhythmic elements played simultaneously.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

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 rhythm or set of rhythms performed as part of a piece of music with multiple rhythmic elements played simultaneously, typically equally spaced in time and coprime.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Music containing such a rhythm.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pleh1- Proto-Indo-European *polh1ús Ancient Greek πολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)lbor. English poly- Proto-Indo-European *ser-? Proto-Indo-European *srew- Proto-Indo-European *sru-dh-mo-s Proto-Hellenic *hruthmós Ancient Greek ῥῠθμός (rhŭthmós)bor. Latin rhythmusder. English rhythm English polyrhythm From poly- + rhythm.