Levitin effect

proper noun

The phenomenon whereby people, even those without musical training, tend to remember songs in the correct key.

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Meanings

proper nounthe Levitin effect
  1. The phenomenon whereby people, even those without musical training, tend to remember songs in the correct key.

Origin

First documented by Daniel J. Levitin in 1994.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Levitin effect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Levitin%20effect

MLA

“Levitin effect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Levitin%20effect. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Levitin effect,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Levitin%20effect.

Source: Levitin effect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.