- Today's Word
Cacophony
[kuh-KOF-uh-nee]
Definition
- (noun) A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. It’s used to describe any loud, confusing, and unpleasant noise, often made up of many different sounds happening simultaneously.
Example
The city street was filled with a cacophony of car horns, construction work, and street vendors shouting, making it nearly impossible to hear oneself think.
Fun Fact
The word “cacophony” comes from the Greek words “kakos,” meaning “bad,” and “phone,” meaning “sound” or “voice.” It was first used in English in the 17th century to describe unpleasant sounds in music. Interestingly, its antonym is “euphony,” which describes pleasant or harmonious sounds. In literature, cacophony is sometimes used intentionally as a stylistic device to create a sense of chaos or discord, often through the use of words with harsh-sounding consonants or clashing vowels.
(verb) To assign someone or something to a lower position, status, or role—often as a form of dismissal or reduction in importance.
After the scandal, the senator was relegated to a minor committee post.
Late Middle English: from Latin relegare, meaning “to send away,” from re- ‘again’ + legare ‘to send’.