deceptive cadence

noun

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.

Similar
interrupted cadence
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Meanings

noundeceptive cadence (plural deceptive cadences)

plural deceptive cadences

  1. USentertainmenta 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.

    Synonyms: interrupted cadence

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna 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.

Similar
interrupted cadence

Translations

Finnish harhalopuke
  • harhalopukefalling cadence the dominant chord resolves to something other than the tonic (usually the submediant)
French cadence rompue
  • cadence rompuefalling cadence the dominant chord resolves to something other than the tonic (usually the submediant)
German Trugschluss
  • Trugschlussfalling cadence the dominant chord resolves to something other than the tonic (usually the submediant)
Italian cadenza d'inganno
  • cadenza d'ingannofalling cadence the dominant chord resolves to something other than the tonic (usually the submediant)
Cite this entry
APA

deceptive cadence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deceptive%20cadence

MLA

“deceptive cadence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deceptive%20cadence. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deceptive cadence,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deceptive%20cadence.

Source: deceptive cadence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.